james wika 
The management of Curtin University in Western Australia paid a courtesy call to the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Vice Chancellor,Prof.Victoria Ngumi on Thursday, July 10, 2025 to firm up collaboration discussions to actualise a joint academic programme in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering.
This comes at a time when universities across the globe are forming new partnerships aimed at tackling critical challenges in specific areas of research and training.
Under the partnership, JKUAT is looking forward to exploring a 5-year joint programme focusing on Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, with a possibility of including the maritime and the blue economy studies under Marine Engineering.
This unique model would allow JKUAT students, through sponsorships, to undertake an initial three years of studies at JKUAT and complete the final two years at Curtin University in Australia.
This arrangement is designed to provide JKUAT students with unparalleled international exposure, specialised skills, and a global perspective in these vital sectors.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Ngumi,lauded the partnership move noting, through this partnership, JKUAT envisions a joint research initiative, faculty and student exchanges, co-publications, and collaborative innovations that will not only enrich the two institutions but also contribute meaningfully to the global academic and development agenda.
“In a rapidly changing world, higher education institutions are increasingly called upon to rise above national borders and work collectively in solving global challenges.
This collaboration, particularly in the areas of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, embodies our shared commitment to academic excellence,impactful research, and the training of globally competitive graduates,” said Prof. Ngumi.
“I commend the leadership and vision of Prof. David Mickler and the entire team at Curtin University for choosing to walk this path with us.
We believe this collaboration will open up countless opportunities for our students and researchers, giving them international exposure and a broader academic perspective,” she added.
On his part, the Curtin University representative, Prof. David Mickler, thanked the JKUAT Vice Chancellor for welcoming the collaboration.
He said, the collaboration marks the beginning of what they believe will be a strong, enduring,and mutually beneficial partnership between the two great institutions.
“In today’s interconnected world, international partnerships in higher education are not just desirable, they are essential.
They enable us to bring together diverse perspectives, tap into each other’s strengths and work collaboratively to solve complex global challenges,”asserted Prof. Mickler
“Our universities share a common commitment to academic excellence, innovative research, and societal impact.
Through this partnership, we aim to build bridges in key areas of Engineering, where both our institutions have grown expertise and a desire to lead,” he added.
The proposed collaboration holds immense promise for the two institutions, creating avenues for knowledge sharing, innovation, and the development of highly skilled professionals ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global landscape.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will later be signed, envisions a bright future for this impactful partnership, which will start with engineering and later to other courses.
Further, the collaboration does not only look forward to joint research initiatives for staff and students exchanges but also curriculum development as well as opportunities that expose learners and researchers to new environments, cultures and ideas.
