Kenya, Iran in deal to broaden research at institutions of higher learning
George Kebaso @Morarak
Kenya and Iran are on the verge of inking deals with three universities based in Nairobi to start a Master of Science degree course on nano-technology, a field strong in research and innovation.
The course is to start in the next semester at the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and also the Africa Union-based Pan African University.
Iranian embassy in Nairobi has confirmed that its government is finalising the necessary paperwork to enable Iranian scientists to start teaching the course that has modernised health, environmental and agricultural research elsewhere in the world.
Speaking at the head of the official inauguration of the Iranian House of Innovation and Technology in Nairobi yesterday, Iranian Ambassador to Kenya, Jafar Barmaki said his country’s Vice-President Sorena Sattari, had negotiated with the Ministry of Education officials on starting the course.
“We had negotiations with the Education ministry and hope to escalate this quickly, to bring on board more institutions of higher learning.
Iran is one of the top countries in the world that has used nanotechnology to broaden research and modernise water purification and food packaging,” he said.
He said the talks explored new areas of cooperation with the Kenyan government especially regarding university education.
“One of the areas we have started to negotiate with Kenyan universities is nano-technology.
We are ready to have developmental assistance to those universities in training and educating their students. In the next semester, we hope to start,” he said.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the innovations would spur job creation among the youth adding that the government is committed to market the innovations.
The Iranian delegation is set to meet Kenya’s business community to strengthen trade relations between the two states.
