The School of Computing and Engineering Sciences at Strathmore University recently hosted an Industry Partners Event that brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to redefine how institutions prepare students for a fast-changing world of work.

Redefining Education: From Knowledge Transfer to Skills Mastery

Speakers emphasized a shift from traditional teaching toward competency-based learning that directly reflects industry needs. Prof. Bernard Shibwabo underscored the triple helix model linking academia, industry, and government a framework that has successfully driven innovation for decades.
Dr. Kamau Gachigi, Managing Director of Gearbox, and Dr. Esther Khakata both emphasized that education must focus on mastery, not passing grades, by identifying and closing the 30% of skills still missing when students achieve 70%. This approach redefines assessment around demonstrated competence.

Purpose-Driven Learning

Col. Simon Maina, Director of Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Emerging Technologies at the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), noted a generational shift in motivation. Today’s students, he said, “seek purpose and dignity in their work.” He stressed that universities must build character alongside knowledge, ensuring alignment among government, academia, and industry as Kenya deepens its digital transformation.

Strathmore was among the first institutions to embed cybersecurity training aligned with national priorities, ensuring students learn in a real-world context.

Industry Immersion: Beyond Traditional Attachments

Mr. Jude Mido, Lecturer, highlighted that industrial exposure helps students navigate more than 40 specialized computing fields. Attachment programs, he said, clarify career paths and set clear professional expectations.

Agnes Limo, MBS, Chief Executive Officer of Vilcom Networks Limited, echoed this, saying the industry seeks “plug and play” graduates — professionals ready to contribute from day one. Achieving this requires deeper partnerships, where companies train and mentor students beyond classroom walls.

A Call for Systemic Change

Eng. Margaret Ogai of the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders:

“We are different pockets of really knowledgeable and passionate people who need to come together and bring the change that is needed.”

Key recommendations from the forum included:

• Aligning research and innovation to societal needs
• Embedding industry experts as regular classroom contributors
• Extending faculty attachments in industry
• Expanding mentorship and shadowing programs
• Redefining assessment to focus on skill demonstration
• Promoting flexible learning and hybrid work-study models
• Establishing innovation hubs across Kenya

Character as the Foundation

Contributors such as Eng. Dr. Butime Dean, School of Computing and Engineering Sciences, reinforced a common theme that character is the cornerstone of competence. The goal is not merely to produce employable graduates but to nurture innovators who challenge the status quo.

As Kenya accelerates into its digital future, the synergy between academia and industry is no longer optional; it’s essential. Through events like this, Strathmore University is shaping a new generation equipped not just with skills, but with purpose, resilience, and the character to drive national transformation.