Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul K. Wainaina, CBS, signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Edinburgh Principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sir Peter Mathieson during a ceremony at KU's Main Campus on May 10, 2025.
The agreement establishes a framework for joint doctoral supervision, where PhD students enrolled at KU will be co-supervised by academic staff from both universities. The programme, set to begin in January 2026, will initially focus on STEM disciplines including Biochemistry, Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Computing.
| Area of Collaboration | Details |
|---|---|
| Joint PhD Supervision | Up to 20 PhD students per cohort, co-supervised by both universities |
| Staff Exchange | Annual exchange of 4 academic staff members from each institution |
| Student Exchange | Short-term research visits (3–6 months) for postgraduate students |
| Joint Research Grants | Co-application for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and EU Horizon grants |
| Dual-award Degrees | Pathway for dual-branded degrees from 2027 |
"This partnership signals a new era of internationalisation for KU," said Prof. Wainaina. "Our PhD students will benefit from the best of both worlds — the contextual knowledge of African research challenges and the global academic standards of a Russell Group university."
