Tsinghua University students pay a courtesy call to the Vice Chancellor

On Wednesday, August 6^th, 2024, two research students from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, led by Prof. Aobo Ran, a Research Assistant Professor at the Think Tank Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, paid a courtesy call to the Vice Chancellor of Machakos University. The visit aimed to discuss and conduct research on the Luban Workshop and its effectiveness. The meeting was facilitated by the Research Division, led by the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Innovation, and Linkages, Prof. Stanley Makindi.

The meeting included key members of the University Management, the Dean School of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Charles Mwaniki, the Chair of the Department of Computing and Information Technology, Dr. Eric Omuya, the Head of Corporate and Public Relations, Ms. Valarie Katemi, Cloud Computing Instructor, Mr. Frankline Mutisya, and Luban Workshop Technician and alumni, Mr. Humphrey Mwambaji.

The Vice Chancellor warmly welcomed the visitors and expressed gratitude for their visit. She emphasized the significance of the exercise in gathering essential information to evaluate the effectiveness of the Luban Workshop for both the university and the broader community. She also highlighted how the activity would strengthen the ongoing collaborations between Machakos University and the Government of China through the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya.

The Vice Chancellor stated that the Luban Workshop at Machakos University has been instrumental in facilitating several key research and innovation projects for both staff and students. The workshop conforms to the demand for industrial development and has nurtured a number of skilled staff and students needed in the current global economic and social development. The workshop not only provides infrastructure for technical education but also fosters an environment for students to innovate in computing and engineering.

Students have been actively engaging in projects involving Internet of Things (IoT) for waste and water management, smart agriculture utilizing artificial intelligence, and mobile applications aiding transitions between education levels. Notably, students from various disciplines collaborated to develop a “Blind Eye” mobile application, designed to assist the visually impaired in navigating their surroundings. This innovation received recognition for its artificial intelligence technology and overall excellence at the Inter-University hackathon.

The workshop has also facilitated short-term mutual visits and exchanges programmes between Vocational and training Institutions in China and Machakos University staff and students, and through international skills and vocational competitions, such as the Huawei competition.

Dr. Eric Omuya and Mr. Frankline Mutisya are currently engaged in the Luban Workshop’s training program, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications, providing students with a unique opportunity to translate classroom teachings into tangible skills.

The Department of Computing and Information Technology (CIT) currently offers the following programs:

Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing and Information Security
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) in Cloud Computing (Professional Training)
Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) in Artificial Intelligence (Professional Training)
Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) in Datacom (Professional Training)

Future outlook for the Luban Workshop includes;Expansion of the workshop to include emerging technologies as a center of excellence. Increase the number of industry partnerships to support the workshop expansion and acquisition of more equipment to support the growing number of users and student practice. Provision of basic Chinese language courses to staff and students to enhance ongoing collaborations.

In collaboration with partners such as Konza city, Huawei and KENET, Machakos University’s Luban Workshop extends its impact beyond the community and country at large. The visit from Tsinghua University students marks a significant step in fostering international collaboration and enhancing the research capabilities of Machakos University through the Luban Workshop.

PICTORIAL