Three UoN staff have been recognized for their outstanding service in helping the country steer through the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020. E. President Uhuru Kenyatta recognized 68 Kenyans with the Presidential Order of Service, Uzalendo award during the 57th Madaraka day ceremony commemorated on June 1, 2020.

Prof. Omu Anzala, Dr. Loice Achieng’ Ombajo and Dr. Marybeth Maritim were among the 68 kenyans who received the Uzalendo award.

The University congratulates the doctors who have made great contributions towards solving challenges brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic.

Dr. Loice Achieng’ Ombajo (left), Dr. Marybeth Maritim (right) and Prof. Omu Anzala (centre)

Three UoN staff have been recognized for their outstanding service in helping the country steer through the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020. E. President Uhuru Kenyatta recognized 68 Kenyans with the Presidential Order of Service, Uzalendo award during the 57th Madaraka day ceremony commemorated on June 1, 2020.

Prof. Omu Anzala, Dr. Loice Achieng’ Ombajo and Dr. Marybeth Maritim were among the 68 kenyans who received the Uzalendo award.

The University congratulates the doctors who have made great contributions towards solving challenges brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic.

 Mr. Christopher Mwirigi, the Manager, Learning and Development at I & M Bank highlights networking, having a proper mindset accompanied by strong values and integrity as core skills graduates need to acquire as a process of branding themselves for employment.

He notes that some individuals fail to brand themselves sufficiently because they lack passion, confidence as well as aggressiveness. Mr. Mwirigi indicates that habits formed while students are in campus or in earlier life will shape how one will perform in the corporate world. The habits will therefore make or break one’s career. He emphasizes on the importance of standing out from the crowd as a graduate prepares for employment. For this to happen, there are key things graduates need to do.

One is networking, which can successfully take place by volunteering as employers do not solely rely on experience or grades. On the other hand, graduates should be encouraged to travel/ explore the world and get to interact with different people from different backgrounds with different mindsets.

Confidence is also critical as it helps one to socialize and complements a graduate’s papers, CV and resume. Graduates should also have a good perception which they can develop by working on their etiquette; from how one eats to how they speak, and write.

Mr. Mwirigi points out the importance of being honest and researching on the ompany one aspires to work with. For the former, graduates looking out for employment must present themselves in the best way possible to prevent embarrassment or loss of the job in the future. Researching on a company before going for an interview demonstrates one’s enthusiasm for the career and impresses the employer thus making an interviewee a prospective candidate for the job they applied for.

To separate oneself from competition, Mr. Mwirigi states that it is crucial for graduates to manage themselves in terms of time keeping as well as maintaining their values. This helps to avoid peer pressure as they are doing something they have aligned themselves with.

Dorothy Sagwe – Director, Business Finance at Oracle (EA) made a presentation to students during the 2018 Career Fair on future career trends. Her presentation was very informative that the Career Office thought of disseminating this information on the website alongside the event’s report.

So here goes…

Careers are changing and technology is at the core of this change. Graduates should therefore set out to look into what the changing nature of the work place and skills required for one to be productive in the job market.

It does not matter what field you are in, graduates should think beyond boarders of the traditional employment. The job market is broad and graduates must therefore fully engage themselves with skills in their area of focus and beyond. Times have changed and as opposed to looking for a specialist in a certain field the traditional way, one can go online and find specialized services in a snap. In this 21st century, the consumer is online; graduates’ skills and knowledge must be advertised online too.

With the diversification of available jobs, employees have to be team players so as to work and deliver results without supervision. Employees must move with the world and not to stay idle at any cost. It is therefore important for employees to take initiative so as to excel in the workplace. This can be done by taking into consideration three points. The first being able to re-invent oneself by learning, unlearning and relearning. Secondly, an employee must understand that we live and work in a community where there are diverse people who have acquired different pieces of information one can tap into; thus, the importance of coaches/ mentors comes in. Lastly, employees must develop leadership skills, be team players, acquire problem solving skills and social skills that help drive virtues like trust and integrity in building the economy.

The difference between who you are today and who you will be in the future will be the books you read, the people you meet and interact with and the places you go to. In conclusion, the speaker emphasized that each person is a resource to his/her family and community.

Therefore, students must strive to:

1. Re-invent themselves continually learn, unlearn, re-learn-Get their skill out there faster and more efficiently;
2. Live and work within a community, different people offer different services. Mentor others in your line of profession, specialization;
3. Develop soft skills that make the world go round – leadership skills, teamwork, problem solving, social needs, value system-integrity;
4. Keep reading and learning both online and physical classes, look for coaches and mentors;
5. Work with integrity.

With this knowledge, the Office of career Services hopes any student reading this will re-invent themselves and tap on the skills shared here to excel in the job market

The Office of Career Services on Friday May 29, 2020 held a Webinar in partnership with Fuzu, an online job listing company from 4.00 – 5.00 pm. Over 150 students attended the Webinar.

The webinar focused on educating students on how to set up a Fuzu account, what employers look for and essential tools that students require for career development. Nelly Mutula, the Head of HR and Faith Wambui, Community Manager at Fuzu took the students through the different sessions.

Faith Wambui showcased a sample Fuzu account for the students and encouraged them to increase their chances of securing a job by creating a Fuzu account. The account basically highlights one’s Summary/profile, Education Background, Work Experience, Skills and other areas of interest. The account can also be linked to your email, FB Account of LinkedIn Account and therefore it is important to post content in your social media handles that reflects well on you.

Students were encouraged to be able to stand out from the rest of the applicants by Nelly. She indicated that for every single job application, over 100 applications are received. Therefore, your CV must be captivating enough for an employer to want to read it.

Nelly further highlighted the key skills that employers look out for and this include;

1. Communication Skills
2. Experience – Seminars attended, Trainings, Volunteer opportunities
3. Technical skills – in one’s area of expertise
4. Soft Skills – Adaptability, Flexibility, Passion, Teamwork, Leadership
5. One’s strengths and areas of development (weaknesses)

Students were encouraged to visit the Fuzu blog for more information to help them prepare for the job market including how to create a good CV, what skills to highlight and interview preparedness among other. Fuzu also offers career coaching services and instant feedback.

Students got an opportunity to ask questions which ranged from CV and cover letter writing, Interview preparedness, skills to highlight and how best to position themselves to be the best candidates for a job.

The Office of Career Services appreciates this partnership with Fuzu in building the skills of the students to enable them develop selling CVs and cover letters and emerge top in interviews.

The UoN Research Week is an annual event hosted by the University of Nairobi in October each year. The week features over ten different conferences covering a diverse range of academic disciplines, one of which is bound to meet your interest and area of expertise.

The conferences provide a forum to enable you to present your work, engage with your colleagues, and learn about the latest developments in your field.

For students, especially PhD students, Research Week 2020 provides and ideal forum to present and receive positive critique on your work before you submit it for journal publication, or before your dissertation defence.

Submit an abstract for any of the 13 Conferences, part of Research Week 2020, October 12-16, 2020

Deadlines for Abstract submission fast approaching. https://uonresearch.org/researchweek2020 …#researchweek2020

The National Research Fund (NRF) is a statutory body established by Science, Technology and Innovation Act No. 28 of 2013. The institution is domiciled under the Ministry of Education, State Department for University Education & Research. The Fund is mandated to facilitate research for the advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in the country.

Based on the current situation in the country, NRF wishes to engage the Research Community to address the emerging trends brought about by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, Invasion of desert locusts and Cancer. Subsequently, NRF presents a National strategic call for Research Proposals focusing on above three thematic areas.

For further details, click on the link below

NRF-STRATEGIC-CALLS-FOR-PROPOSALS (1)

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama on Friday May 29, 2020 officially commissioned the automated Authority to Incur (AIE) training for top management staff and AIE holders in all departments within the University.

The system is aimed at automating the entire process of raising a payment, approvals, payment and auditing functions.

The approvers for an AIE include the Head of Department, Budgetary, Examination, Finance Officer, Principal, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice chancellor. The AIE amount will determine the level of approvals a payment has to undergo.

The Vice Chancellor maintained that all payments must be supported by approved procurement plan and budget. He further added that auditors (both internal and external) will help to improve the AIE system and minimize on risks.

It is hoped that this automation of payments will fast-track the payment process which initially involved physical movement of documents making the process slow.

The University of Nairobi Confucius Institute was handed over by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China represented by Amb. Wu Peng to the Government of Kenya represented by Prof. George Magoha, the Cabinet Secretary, Education on Friday May 29, 2020, at the institute located along arboretum Drive, Nairobi.

The handing over event was also attended by the UoN Chancellor, Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, Council Chair, Prof. Julia Ojiambo, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama, Director Confucius Institute, Prof. Xiao Shan and top management from the University.

In his opening remarks, the Prof. Kiama, the UoN Vice Chancellor appreciated the for this great contribution to promote cultural diversity, Chinese Mandarin language teaching and interaction between citizens of the two Governments. In his speech, Prof. Kiama added that the institute will also relieve pressure for teaching space.

The environmental friendly Confucius Institute was built with funding from the Peoples Republic of China at a cost of KES 1.4 billion. The University contributed 3 acres of land on which the Institute lies worth KES 900 million.

Amb. Wu Peng representing the Peoples Republic of China appreciated the University of Nairobi, Confucius Institute and Tianjin Normal University for the strong partnership and contribution to implement the project. He further added that the Chinese Government will support in equipping the institute’s classes, Lecture theatres, library and exhibition centre.

The Chancellor, Dr. Vijoo Rattansi in her speech appreciated the Chinese Government for the magnificent structure with great stature that will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in promoting education and cultural exchanges and interactions between the two nations. She further appreciated the Cabinet Secretary for finding time despite his busy schedule to grace the event.

Prof. George Magoha, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education appreciated the Peoples Republic of China for this great contribution to Education and Cultural diversification between the two Nations. He further indicated that the institute offers UoN an opportunity to teach Chinese language to Immigration staff at the Ministry of Foreign affairs and students and staff both from Kenya and neighboring countries. With the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) requiring teaching of languages right from grade 4, Prof. Magoha suggested that Chinese language could be one of the languages taught to the Children by teachers trained at the institute.

In her vote of thanks, Pro. Ojiambo the Council Chair stated that the kind gesture by the Peoples Republic of China will go a long way in cementing the friendship between the two Nations and open up more partnership opportunities for the citizens of Kenya and China.

The University of Nairobi immensely appreciates this great contribution from the Peoples Republic of China.