Thursday, October 19, 2023,

Aicat Trust Kenya (ATK) and Young Agriculture Professionals (YEP) partnered with the University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services to host an impactful career guidance program targeting the final year students in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

The mentorship session was held at the 8.4.4 Building, located within the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the Upper Kabete Campus, and it attracted a significant turnout, with 367 eager students looking to embark on their career journeys. The session was attended by esteemed alumni from the faculty of Agriculture and experts from YEP and ATK. Speaking during the session the head of Career Services Madam Naom Nyaboga reminded students on the importance of soft skills and encouraged them to enhance themselves in terms of skills set and upskill themselves to equally compete in the job market.

The ‘GET IT RIGHT’, session was expertly crafted to equip students with the tools and insights needed for a successful entry into the job market. The program encompassed a rich array of activities, including a keynote address, engaging panel discussions, one-on-one mentoring sessions, and the establishment of virtual follow up connections with mentors representing diverse disciplines. Students were provided with invaluable guidance on a range of critical career development topics which included networking, strategies for securing internships and market penetration, exploring self-employment opportunities, honing their skills in crafting impressive CVs and cover letters, investigating opportunities abroad, and considering further studies. In a rapidly evolving job market, emphasis was also placed on cultivating 21st century skills.

This collaborative effort between ATK, YEP, and the University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services played a pivotal role in empowering these aspiring professionals, ensuring they are well prepared to proactively pursue their careers and seize opportunities in the competitive world of agriculture and veterinary medicine. The program served as a guiding light, illuminating the path to success for the students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nairobi.

The University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services organized a transformative career mentorship session on Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Mombasa Campus. The career mentorship program was attended by over 100 students from diverse faculties, the session aimed to arm  and equip students with the knowledge and awareness essential for navigating the fiercely competitive job market. The session included remarks from the Office of Career Services and a panel discussion involving experiences Peers from different fields

Madam Naomi Nyaboga, Head of Career Services, Explained the pivotal role of the Career Services Office in transforming ordinary students into qualified, market-ready graduates, thereby addressing the unemployment gap not only in Kenya but globally.

Stephen Okiki, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Express Shipping & Log LTD, Shared valuable advice on learning from mistakes, identifying opportunities, and adapting to the digital era. Emphasized the importance of being updated in a rapidly evolving world.

Madam Lucy Gikundi, who a mental health champion and assistant dean faculty of arts and Social Sciences Encouraged students to seek career guidance, utilize available resources, and form meaningful relationships. She advised on avoiding misinformation, facing challenges head-on, and ensuring relationships are reliable.

Dr. Melba Wasuna, External Affairs Manager, Highlighted the commitment to fostering a competitive edge among students, stressing the necessity of continuous improvement and upskilling. Underlined the idea that achievements today pave the way for future ventures.

Key Takeaways from the session included; Emphasis on transformation from student to market-ready graduate, Learning from mistakes and identifying opportunities, Navigating challenges with career guidance and resources and Importance of continuous improvement and upskilling to equally Compete in the competitive job market.

The mentorship session echoed a commitment to empowering students with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-changing job landscape. The University of Nairobi, through its dedicated mentors and speakers, is paving the way for a generation of skilled, resilient, and informed graduates poised to shape the future. This program serves as a testament to the university’s dedication to nurturing not just academic success, but holistic development for each student.

In September 2023, the University of Nairobi’s Law Faculty secured the runner-up position in the fiercely competitive 2023 All African Moot Court Competition. This prestigious event unfolded at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, spanning from the 3rd to the 9th of September, and drew participation from law schools across 17 African nations.

The competition’s themed, “The Africa We Want,” addressed important issues like illegal mining, climate change, education, harmful practices, and the rights of gender and sexual minorities in Africa. It challenged participants to apply their legal knowledge to real-world problems. With 92 teams from 19 African countries participating, it was a significant event.

This annual competition, which started in 1992, plays a crucial role in legal education in Africa. It trains future lawyers to argue cases involving human rights violations, as if they were presenting before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

While the University of Nairobi’s team did not win the championship, their journey to the finals deserves recognition. The team members, Njapit Ntikiya and Trevor Kamau, represented their university with distinction.

The All African Moot Court Competition has had a lasting impact beyond the event itself. It has played a significant role in shaping human rights teaching and research across Africa. Over the years, 170 universities from 47 African countries have participated, making it a permanent fixture in African legal education. It has also led to the establishment of important human rights programs, cultivating a new generation of African legal professionals dedicated to justice and human rights.

As we celebrate the University of Nairobi’s impressive performance and their role as ambassadors, we also recognize the competition’s profound influence on legal education and the pursuit of justice in Africa. It is through events like this that we continue to shape the legal landscape in our continent and work toward achieving “The Africa We Want.”

Dear Staff/Students,

The Office of Career Services in partnership with Lapid Leaders has organized a Webinar on the ‘Power of Resilience’

The aim of the webinar is to inspire and equip African youth with the tools and mindset needed to overcome challenges and unleash their full potential.

Webinar Title: Empowering African Youth: Power of Resilience
Date: 15th September 2023
Time: 7Pm to 8:30PM
Speaker: Melita Ole Tenges, Senior Political News Writer, NTV Kenya

WEBINAR REGISTRATION

Webinar Registration Link: bit.ly/LS-Power

Webinar Zoom Link: 

Lapid Leaders Africa is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: LAPID WEBINARS: POWER OF RESILIENCE WITH MELITA
Time: Sep 15, 2023 07:00 PM Nairobi

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906288179?pwd=a2o1MlNZYWJrQ2tLRjJiWkFObXNzdz09

Meeting ID: 839 0628 8179
Passcode: 713793

We are pleased to announce that eMobilis is offering a Fully Sponsored Web Development Scholarship that is aimed at equipping the youth with technical skills through an intensive training starting on October 2, 2023 for two and a half months. 

eMobilis is an award-winning, accredited, 12-year-old Technology and Digital Training Institution and Innovation Hub with 4 computer labs based in Westlands, Nairobi.

Our globally accepted curriculum has enabled us to run Training, Incubation and Youth Development programs for partners such as Mastercard Foundation, Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy (Ajira Digital), Safaricom (Safaricom Academy incubation), Google, UNESCO, KICD, World Bank (Mlab Regional Laboratory in consortium with iHub), GIZ (Android Developer Boot camps for the EAC Secretariat in 6 countries), Dot Connect Africa (All female Coding class), Microsoft (JKUAT Boot Camps) etc.

The program targets 3rd and 4th Year University and TVET students in the ICT field who are passionate about technology and have access to reliable internet connection and a Laptop/Desktop. The classes will be conducted virtually for 3 hours per day by our able Lecturers who have extensive experience as Developers.

Application link: https://bit.ly/3DT5d6e

Registration Deadline: Wednesday 20 September, 2023.

In collaboration with the University of Nairobi’s Admission Office, the Office of Career Services received students from Chebonei Girls Secondary School – Bomet on August 8, 2023. The students made their way to the University of Nairobi’s Towers, 3rd Floor, Room 302 for a career guidance session with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the courses provided at the University as well as the general student life at the University of Nairobi.

The Career Guidance Session that started at 10 am was facilitated by a team from the admissions office who shared in detail the admission requirements for various courses offered at the University of Nairobi as well as the admission process of the University of Nairobi. Naomi Nyaboga – Head of Section Career Services shared a presentation on the role of the Office of the Dean of Students and Career Services in handling the non-academic aspect of students’ lives, to make their journey at the University both wholesome and productive. In addition, Naomi Nyaboga encouraged the students to make great use of their holiday by learning a new skill to not only keep them busy but widen their scope and knowledge.

The students from Chebonei Girls displayed great enthusiasm and excitement to potentially enroll at the University of Nairobi. They promised to work hard in order to qualify for the various undergraduate courses offered at the University of Nairobi. The session was concluded by a tour of select areas and faculties of the University of Nairobi.

We look forward to receiving these beautiful young minds as scholars at our beautiful institution.

The University on Tuesday August 1, 2023 flagged off 60 students set to travel to the Arava region in Israel. The flagging of was held after a thorough pre-departure training for the students. Sixty (60) students from the University of Nairobi have been admitted to the AICAT program for the 2023/2024 intake.

The Government of Kenya and the State of Israel signed a Jerusalem Declaration on February 2016 for an 11 months’ experiential internship program in Israel for Kenyan University graduates pursuing Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.  The program is run in partnership with Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Israel that mentors students on professional, theoretical and practical knowhow and skills in advanced agricultural studies, based on ‘Learning by Doing’.  About 480 students from Kenya and 150 from UoN have benefitted from this prestigious program since its inception in 2016.

The pre-departure preparation training covered various areas including being Physically, Mentally, Financially and emotionally prepared for the program. Other areas covered included packing for international travel, departure from the JKIA airport, connecting flights at Dubai/Bole International Airport, arrival in Tel Aviv, Program Terms and Conditions, Financial Management Tips, Professionalism and 21st Century Skills as presented by Naomi Nyaboga, Section Head, Office of Career Services. “We expect you to uphold your ethical and moral values and be good ambassadors of the University of Nairobi during your 11 months stay in Israel reiterated Ms. Naomi Nyaboga.

The UoN Office of Career Services has since 2017 sent students to Israel to learn extensive agricultural skills. “Today we flag off 60 more and wish them well as they embark on this 11 months journey of hard work” said Mr. Johnson Kinyua, Dean of Students University of Nairobi.

AICAT Alumni represented by the outgoing Student Leader Sharon Namu, incoming student leader, Jesse Obimbo, Ebby Soita and Diana Shianda mentored the students on overcoming challenges and taking advantage of opportunities during the AICAT Program.

The pre-departure training was crowned by the flagging off of the students by the Ag. Vice Chancellor and DVC Academic Affairs, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o. He wished the students well and reminded them of their duty as Ambassadors of the University of Nairobi.

As part of our commitment to supporting students mental health and well-being, the Office of the Dean of Students’ Wellness Centre held a sensitization webinar titled, ‘Mindful Digital Wellbeing’ on Wednesday July 5, 2023 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm via zoom.

The interactive session themed, ‘Navigating Online Spaces and Mental Wellness’, explored the impact of online spaces on mental health and provide practical strategies to maintain a healthy digital presence. The session aimed to address the impact of online spaces on mental health and provide strategies for maintaining a healthy online presence for students as well as how students can harness the power of technology to work for them and advance their careers.

The session which had an attendance of 50 students began at 2:00pm with students logging in to the session for the first 10 minutes, followed by an opening prayer by Nina Kinya, a student setting a positive and reflective tone for the session.

Moderated by Mary Oloo, Student Assistant, Career Services the webinar kicked off with welcoming remarks and session introduction by Lucy Gikundi, Coordinator of the Wellness Centre. She delivered the welcoming remarks and provided an overview of the session’s objectives and agenda. Lucy Gikundi then proceeded to present on, ‘Mental Health and Self-care’. The session focused on the importance of prioritizing mental well-being and provided practical strategies for self-care in the digital age.

The second part of the session was on,’ Navigating Online Spaces for Optimal Mental Health,’ facilitated by Naomi Nyaboga, Head of Section from Career Services. She discussed strategies for maintaining a healthy online presence and managing social media usage. Participants learned about the potential impact of online spaces on mental health and explored ways to navigate these spaces mindfully. She also discussed the benefis of harnessing the power of technology and social media to advance your careers through taking online professional courses and advertising skills and expertise.

The session came to a close with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Mary Oloo, Student Assistant, Career Service and a closing prayer led by Maureen Otieno, a Students Assistant to the UoN Wellness Centre.

Students shared their thoughts the usefulness and the informativeness of the session before proceeding to log out of the meeting at their own pleasure.

he University of Nairobi, through the Office of the Dean of Students and Career Services opened its doors to staff members from the University of Kent’s Career Office. This was part of an ongoing exchange program between the two institutions under the Erasmus plus funding where staff and students are given a chance to connect engage and share good practices and areas of improvement.

The visit that took place from Monday 19 June 2023 to Friday 23 June, 2023 was hosted by Johnson Kinyua – Dean of Students, Lucy Gikundi – Assistant Dean of Students (Parklands), Naomi Nyaboga, Head of Section Career Services and Mary Oloo – Student Assistant (Career Services).

The main aim of the visit by Dr.Anthony Manning – Dean of Global & LifeLong Learning, Sue Hopkinson- Head of International Recruitment and Gemma Witts – Senior Careers Advisor, was to create a better understanding of the Kenyan Employability Landscape and inform the University of Kent’s team on matters career, employability especially when interacting with students from Kenya. The Team also hoped to widen the scope of their understanding on the education system and how this informs the performance of students in their places of work.

Both teams; from the University of Nairobi and the University of Kent engaged in a very rigorous and insightful week of fun activities and learning. Some of the week’s highlights included an Employability Skills Training, a visit to Giraffe Center and animal orphanage, a visit to the University of Nairobi’s C4d Lab and incubation center and a podcast recording session with campus radio.

Overall, the visit was a success with both parties enforcing their knowledge on the employability landscape in Kenya with promise of both the University of Nairobi and the University of Kent continuing to work hand in hand through online workshops and training’s, continuous borrowing and implementation of ideas in their respective career departments.

During the University of Nairobi’s Career & Job Fair 2023, the Office of Career Services opened its doors to High School Students from around Nairobi and many more from various parts of the country.  The UoN Career Fair that was held from 17 – 19 May, 2023 was structured to have specialized career talks for High school Students on Thursday 18 May, 2023. These sessions were facilitated by the University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services, the Admissions Office in partnership with The Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

The Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) took the opportunity to notice their University and Colleges placement portal at the Career Fair. They then proceeded to sensitize High School Students on how to make selections on the portal, how to pick courses and universities/colleges of interest. The University of Nairobi’s Admissions Office then proceeded to share with the students the kinds of courses the University offers, the cluster points required and any other qualifications they needed to join the University.

High Schools students also had the opportunity to sit in on the various panel discussions. They reported having a better understanding of the evolving job market, which helps them prepare both academically and mentally for their transition into the university and the kinds of careers they are looking to go into in the world of tech. The high school students were amazed at the infinite career possibilities created by technology and innovation and were more than eager to be part of the revolution.