Kenyatta University, Kenya
Kenyatta University is a public university offering over 120 Bachelors, over 65 Masters and over 31 PhD degree programs in 19 teaching schools. With several campuses across the country, it has a student population of over 70000 and a teaching staff of over 2000. It is home to top scholars, researchers and experts in diverse fields. KenU is officially recognised by Inter-university Council for East Africa, Africa Association of Universities, International Association of Universities and Association of Commonwealth Universities. KenU puts emphasis on practical hands-on knowledge and skills training and has established links with industrial partners. It operates a large number of units that coordinate research and activities in various fields. Among those most relevant are: Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, Industrial Partnerships Directorate, Chandaria Business Innovations and Incubation Centre.
Project team
Prof. Frederick Gravenir is a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation & Outreach at Kenyatta University. He is also a Director for University Advancement and Editor-in-Chief of African Journal of Educational Studies. Prof. Gravenir has extensive teaching experience in Kenyatta University, Egerton University, Moi University, Maseno University College, University of Nairobi. He holds a PhD in Educational Planning from Charles University, Czech Republic.
Prof. Gravenir is a chairman or member of several committees, including:
- Chairman, Kenyatta University Teaching, Research & Referral Hospital Technical Committee
- Chairman, Uni-City Committee
- Chairman, Board, Chandaria Business Innovation & Incubation Centre
- Member, Kenyatta University Industrial Park Planning Committee
- Chairman, Bidding to Host UN-Women Centre Committee
- Many university committees, e.g. Chairman, Departmental Postgraduate Studies Committee; Member, Joint-Admission’s Board Committee on Review of Clusters
Previously, he served as:
- Director of Institute for Research & Development, Kenyatta University, 2003 – 2006
- Director of Institute of Open Learning, Kenyatta University, 2002 – 2003
- Director of Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kenyatta University, 2000 – 2002
- Dean, Faculty of Education, Maseno University College, 1993 – 1999
- Sub-Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, 1979 – 1980
Prof. Gravenir benefits from membership in:
- Economics Association, London, England
- Association of Educational Planners, Prague, Czech Republic
- Nigerian Association of Educational Planners and Administrators
- Ghana Association of Educational Planners and Administrators
- Kenya Educational Administration Association
- Commonwealth Educational Administration Association
- Association of Third World Studies
- Universities Researchers Association of Kenya (Vice-Chairman)
Dr. Gravenir’s key consultancy projects include:
- UNESCO, A Plan of Educational Development in Somalia, 2001 – 2010
- Inventory of Higher Education Resources and Research in Africa, Funded by Ford Foundation, 2003
- Mapping Out Best Practices for Improving Access to Higher Education for Orphaned and Vulnerable Students in Kenya & Rwanda, Funded by AAU/DFID.
- African Women in Institutions of Higher Education: The Case of Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Funded by FAWE/Rockefeller Foundation, 2009.
Prof. Vincent O. Onywera is a member of staff at Kenyatta University, Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science. He has a Bachelor of Education (Honors) in Physical and Health Education from Kenyatta University. His graduate training was from the same University where he obtained his M.Ed (Physical and Health Education). He later completed his PhD (Exercise and Sports Science) where his research focus was on the role of genetics, nutrition and sociocultural factors in explaining the phenomenon performance of Kenyan middle and distance runners. He is a Physical Activity and Active Transport Researcher with extensive national and international research networks. Vincent has worked as the Director of the Center for International Programmes and Collaboration at Kenyatta University and is currently the Registrar in-charge of Research, Innovation and Outreach at Kenyatta University. He volunteers his time working at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Academy at Kenyatta University and was instrumental in the establishment of a Kenyatta University Sports Complex complete with a stadium and recreation centre currently under construction. Vincent has published over 160 publications comprising 120 articles in refereed journals, 3 book chapters, 4 conference proceedings, and 35 conference abstracts. He has secured over Ksh. 150,000,000 (Ksh.150 million) worth of research and development grants from various international funding agencies. Vincent is involved in a number of national, regional and international academic endevours aimed at capacity building, surveillance and research focusing on healthy active living in the greater Eastern Africa and Great Lakes Region (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and Southern Sudan) and beyond.
Prof. Onywera is a member of several professional bodies such the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE); American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), International Physical Activity and the Environment Network (IPEN); International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance (ICHPER·SD) Research; Canadian Obesity Network; Africa Association of Health, PE, Recreation, Sport and Dance-(AAHPERSD); East Africa Association of Health, PE, Recreation, Sport and Dance- (EAAHPERSD); Kenya Association of Health, PE, Recreation, Sport and Dance- (KASHPESD) just to mention a few. He currently is a peer reviewer for many international journals and serves on a number of Kenyatta University Committees and sub-committees. Vincent is a mentor, academic advisor and supervisor to several undergraduate and graduate students within the Eastern African Region and beyond.
Prof. Onesmus Muroki Thuo is a Committee Chair of Kenyatta University Industrial, Science and Technology Park (KU ISTP) and a Lecturer at the Department of Educational Management, Policy and Curriculum Studies, Kenyatta University. Dr. Thuo holds a PhD in Educational Planning and Economics of Education from Kenyatta University. He has a rich experience as a consultant:
- 2006: Associate Consultant, Participatory Baseline Survey on Education for Pastoralist Communities, NCCK-KEC/ Edukaans Foundation, Netherlands
- 2007: Research Associate, KIPPRA/Egerton University Study on Secondary School Inputs and Contribution to Student Gain Score
- 2011: Consultant Reviewer, USAID/KEMI Strategic Plan 2011-2015
- 2011: Associate Consultant, Taskforce on the Realignment of the Education System to the Constitution of Kenya to the Constitution of Kenya 2010
- 2011 to May 2012: Consultant Trainer, USAID/Ministry of Education
- 2012: Research Associate/Logistics Manager, Children and Safety: National Housing Co-operative Union (NACHU) Evaluation Project
- 2012: Research Associate, Multi-Dimensional Impacts of Magana Rural Industrial Park, Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Grant
- 2013-Date: British Council/University of London (IOE)/ Kenyatta University Study, Universities, Graduate Employability and Inclusive Development
- 2013: Kenyatta University-Mbeere District Secondary Schools Training in School Strategic Planning
- 2016: Kenyatta University Strategic Planning Committee
- 2016: Technical Advisor, Ministry of Education/World Bank/Global Partnership for Education Primary Education Development [PRIEDE] Project
Dr. Thuo is a member of:
- Educational Management Society of Kenya
- Institute of Economic Affairs
- Kenyatta University Next Generation of Academics and Researchers Network
- Rotary Club of Kenya, Gigiri Chapter