The government has outlined a plan to transform universities and colleges into engines of economic growth by aligning training and research with labour market demands, strengthening industry linkages and promoting innovation, as part of the national development agenda.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Principal Secretary (PS) for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Muoria, Education Cabinet Secretary(CS) Julius Ogamba told the High-Level Policy Dialogue of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET) in Nairobi that higher education must be repositioned to serve as a driver of job creation and sustainable economic transformation.
Ogamba assured that the government is moving beyond simply expanding access to universities to ensure that the skills imparted meet the needs of a modern economy.
He stressed that learner-centred approaches, problem-based teaching, and digital literacy are being prioritized to produce graduates, who are both employable and capable of creating enterprises.
“Universities and technical institutions must strengthen collaboration with industry to bridge the gap between theory and practice,” maintained the CS, adding that partnerships will ensure that academic research translates into practical innovation, feeling productivity, and enhancing competitiveness.
Further, Ogamba noted that revitalized institutions of higher learning are expected to generate research that informs public policy, while addressing key challenges in sectors such as agriculture, ICT, environment and mining.
He added that research must increasingly be commercialized to create social and economic impact.
Similarly, the CS observed that access to higher education in sub-Saharan Africa has expanded rapidly in recent years, bringing challenges such as pressure on infrastructure and questions of quality.
He reiterated that the government’s commitment to sustaining growth, while upholding standards through investments in infrastructure, faculty development and regulatory oversight.
“The reforms are aligned with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places skills development and innovation at the centre of job creation and economic progress,” he emphasized, insisting that the government’s goal is to make higher education a catalyst for industrialization and a tool for inclusive growth.
Likewise, Ogamba highlighted Kenya’s support for PASET and pointed to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) as a flagship initiative.
Speaking at the event, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Director General (DG), Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, affirmed that ICIPE continues to play a key role in capacity building and research.
He reported that the centre currently supports more than 300 doctoral students across Africa in disciplines such as artificial intelligence, agribusiness, renewable energy, mining, and climate change.
In addition, Dr. Tenkouano urged more governments to invest in the PASET RSIF to expand its impact, describing the programme as one of the strongest models of pan-African collaboration in science and higher education.
“ICIPE’s long-standing model of partnering with universities to co-supervise doctoral students has ensured high completion rates, enabling postgraduate research to contribute directly to tackling Africa’s pressing challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and youth unemployment,” he highlighted.
In her remarks, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Education and Chair of the PASET Governing Council, Claudette Irere, said doctoral training remains central to Africa’s ambition of building a knowledge economy, but acknowledged that PHD graduates often face difficulties linking their research to industry and policy needs.
She stated that the Nairobi policy dialogue provided an important platform to generate strategies for making doctoral training more relevant, impactful, and globally competitive.
“African countries must invest in high-quality doctoral and postdoctoral programmes that respond to national priorities, produce globally competitive graduates, and build human capital capable of driving innovation,” stressed Irere.
Furthermore, she called on governments and universities to draw lessons from each other’s experiences to shape practical reforms that will accelerate the transformation of higher education across the continent.
Concurrently, Prof. Aminata Sall Diallo, Chair of the PASET Executive Board from Senegal, addressed the dialogue virtually, noting that doctoral training is vital not only for Africa’s development but also for building capacity within host universities.
She highlighted that strong PHD programmes enhance research excellence, prepare the next generation of faculty, and generate solutions in critical areas such as ICT, agribusiness, energy, and climate change.
Prof. Diallo added that the Executive Board is committed to aligning its programmes with national priorities and Africa’s broader development agenda, pointing to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund as a model that continues to strengthen research ecosystems and support talented African researchers.
The Chair reaffirmed that the Board will work closely with governments and institutions to implement the outcomes of the Nairobi dialogue.
Meanwhile, discussions during the dialogue focused on improving the quality of doctoral training, scaling up innovation and creating stronger links between universities and industry to boost employability and productivity.
Stakeholders underscored that repositioning higher education as a hub of innovation, research, and industry collaboration was vital for equipping Africa’s youth with skills that will spur job creation, strengthen productivity, and anchor the continent’s long-term economic transformation.
by Naif Rashid
