Egerton University collaboration with Virginia Tech University, USA

Faculty members from Virginia Tech University, USA, on 13^th June 2022, paid a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kibwage at Main Campus in Njoro.

The team from Virginia Tech University, led by Professor Tom Thompson the Associate Dean and Director of Global Programs at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) , are on a two-day visit at Egerton University that’s facilitated by the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM).

From left: The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage, Virginia Tech University Director of Global Programs at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) pose for a photo during a courtesy call at Main Campus in Njoro.

Egerton University and Virgina Tech University have a long history of collaboration in training, research, consultancy and extension. This collaboration came about with signing a Memorandum of Understanding at Virginia Tech University on 22^nd October 2019.

Specifically, the areas of collaboration are Agriculture and Natural Resources; Agri-business; Fisheries, Marine and Ocean Research; Engineering and Information Technology; Leadership, Partnership and Resource Building for Institutional and National Development; Place-based STEM Pedagogy; Agricultural Workforce Development (AWfD), Information Communication Technology.

While welcoming the team to Egerton University, Prof. Isaac Kibwage said that the MoUs such as the one with Virginia Tech University give opportunities for Egerton University to integrate globally in addressing food and nutrition security.

Prof. George Owuor said that Virginia Tech University joined in the inception of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) and were among its first partners. Prof. Owuor is the Director at CESAAM.

Also present during the courtesy call from Virginia Tech University were Assistant Professors Tessa Lecuyer and Natalie E. Cook, Jessica Agnew, Associate Director at CALS Global, Benjamin B. Grove, Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, CALS Global Programs and Virginia Cooperative Extension, John Ignosh Extension Specialist, and Dickson Otieno a Doctorate student and an Alumni of Egerton University