UoN VC Stephen Kiama Announces Plan to Offer Students Jobs

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UoN VC Professor Stephen Kiama addresses first years during a virtual orientation on Thursday, September 3, 2020
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Graduates from the University of Nairobi (UoN) may not tarmac for long if a plan by the leading institution of higher learning to link its students to jobs materialises.

Speaking at the Dean's Induction in Naivasha on Wednesday, August 31, the university's Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama explained that UoN was in the process of changing its academic tact to make it a human-centric institutions.

He further explained that student's welfare would be at the center of its operations and that it was important to integrate them seamlessly into the job market.

The institution will do that through hiring post-graduate students as part-time lecturers as well as linking the rest of its student body to attachment and internships.

 was expelled on allegations of having unauthorized materials in the examination room.
Martha Moracha was expelled from the University of Nairobi on allegations of having unauthorized materials in the examination room.
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"The University must integrate students in all our activities. They must be mentored and equipped with entrepreneurship and innovation skills. Today we must give beyond what is offered in classroom

"Students should be integrated in the job market through attachments and internships. The University will hire post graduate students as part time in future. Part-timers should be people who have compassion for students," explained Kiama.

He further noted that UoN management was still carrying out its reforms with people reforms top of the agenda.

The VC explained that governance reforms, which were noisy, are complete as well as reforms in data, finance and curriculum sectors.

"UoN needs to offer leadership to the Kenyan people, to give hope and faith to the Kenyan people with a strong sense of patriotism.

"It is a moral calling that the University will not tire to offer University of Nairobi values are aligned to the National values and principals," he added.

UoN churns out approximately 13,000 graduates every year who join the flooded market with an ever increasing unemployment rate.

A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicated that unemployment in Kenya was at its highest in 2020 with the figure doubling in a span of 3 months.

1,841,918 Kenyans were unemployed in the months of April, May and June 2020, up from 961,666 reported in the first quarter.

The highest proportion of the unemployed was recorded in the age groups 20-24 and 25-29, each registering over 20 per cent.

Kenyans queued for jobs during a past recruitment exercise
Kenyans queued for jobs during a past recruitment exercise.
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County Government of Nakuru