[kictanet] A Worldclass University is all Konza Technocity Needs: The rest will follow

[John Kieti]

Hi Prof. Kulubi,

That Moi University would be the best parallel to the proposed first
university in Konza is not convincing. This is more so as regards the
aspects  (i) a world class university (ii) focusing on innovation and
entrepreneurship. Your point about inflexibility and inherent bureaucracy
of the world's top universities is well noted. Your point about following
the MSC Malaysia model is noted. I stand corrected but I would think the
MSC Malaysia model is a lot more about a special economic zone with tax
breaks which is OK but does not directly address our specific dream of home
grown scalable IT enterprises tapping into home grown world-class talent.

That said this is a good discourse that may not have absolutes.

ps. is being academic a bad thing?

best

On Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 10:12 PM, James Kulubi <jkulubi at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> John,
> You may be easily accused of being academic. Careful examination of your
> statement "For instance we have seen thriving new University towns in
> Kenya. From Egerton, to Maseno, to Daystar and other universities, we see
> independently thriving ecosystems." shows that you are trying to select
> cases that fit your imaginations.
> The best example of a Kenyan university that fits Konza is Moi University
> - not Egerton, Maseno or Daystar. Moi started as a government sponsored
>  science and technology university but quickly degenerated into something
> else. You can confirm with the report of the second university in Kenya.
> Moi University's location with respect to Eldoret is similar to Konza's
> with respect to Nairobi. It is 35 kms from Eldoret. Moi's impact the local
> town - Kesses - is well know. After 30 years of existence, Kesses is not a
> leading innovation centre. Neither has any leading international company
> found it appropriate to set base at Kesses.
> But the best of the Kenyan KCSE graduates still go to Moi University and
> the  best of the Kenyan lecturers  teach at Moi. Why are the leading
> innovation companies not going to Kesses? Must you hand over the
> institution to them so that they come? Most leading universities have very
> restrictive policies on setting up constituent colleges and more so in
> foreign countries.
> If you reflect on these  questions deeply, then you will see that the
> focus should not be on setting up a university campus. It should be to set
> up an ICT city modeled along the lines of the Multimedia Super corridor in
> Malaysia or other inovation centres elsewhere. Institutions (schools,
> universities, hospitals, etc) will follow when you get the city concept
> right.
> Regards
> Prof. James Kulubi
>
>
>
>   On Thursday, 23 April 2015, 21:06, John Kieti via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Listers and Pundits,
>
> Hear is my long overdue article on what expedited establishment of a
> University focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship at Konza Technocity
> would mean.
>
> http://www.gmeltdown.com/2015/04/a-worldclass-university-is-all-konza.html
>
> Am advised that there's similar thinking already at KoTDA. What do pundits
> here think?
>
> Best regards
>
> --
>
> John Kieti
> Phone: +254-735-764242 // +254-722-764242
> Twitter: @johnKieti // Skype:  jkieti
> Blog: gmeltdown.com <http://www.gmeltdown.com/> // LinkedIn:
> https://ke.linkedin.com/in/*kieti* <https://ke.linkedin.com/in/kieti>
>
> The ordinary just won't do
>
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-- 

John Kieti
Phone: +254-735-764242 // +254-722-764242
Twitter: @johnKieti // Skype:  jkieti
Blog: gmeltdown.com <http://www.gmeltdown.com> // LinkedIn:
https://ke.linkedin.com/in/*kieti* <https://ke.linkedin.com/in/kieti>

The ordinary just won't do
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