Íæż½ã½ã

4 schools in the ParisTech network – AgroParisTech, Chimie ParisTech – PSL, École des Ponts ParisTech, Mines Paris – PSL – and the Íæż½ã½ã (UoN) signed a Tripartite Partnership Agreement (TPA) on May 11, with which CentraleSupélec is also associated /Paris-Saclay University.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama was interviewedÌýfor the Paristech Newsletter.Ìý

What is your international strategy?

We want to welcome more international students and recruit more foreign teacher-researchers.ÌýThis partnership is a unique opportunity for our students and staff to be more internationally exposed than they are today.ÌýInternationalization is written into the agreement.ÌýIndeed, we traditionally forge partnerships with English-speaking countries.ÌýThere, our students will have the opportunity to go to French-speaking countries.ÌýThe partners of the tripartite agreement were selected by the French Embassy because they are the best in their field and it was difficult for us to choose one.

What do you expect from this partnership?

ÌýWe sampled several engineering faculties around the world.ÌýWe observe how they operate, become international.ÌýThere is something to learn, especially about university-private sector partnerships and the many start-ups.ÌýIn this area we need to make our students more employable and create jobs.ÌýSome companies expand.ÌýStudents should have a disruptive approach.ÌýWe see this partnership as an opportunity for our students and staff, and also for French students and colleagues to learn.ÌýIndeed, the Íæż½ã½ã is a good partner, leader in Kenya and East Africa.ÌýThis is an opportunity to internationalize the faculties of science and technology and engineering.ÌýThe entry point of this partnership is the creation of the Engineering and Science Complex financed by a sovereign loan from AFD and the Kenyan Government.ÌýThis is an opportunity to develop a new approach to teaching and learning, to dealing with governance issues and training.ÌýIt is an entry point for short and long term partnerships, an opportunity for young people.ÌýFood security, climate change for example are areas of common interest.

You have visited the ParisTech schools.ÌýWhat lessons have you learned from it?

Problem-based learning (PBL) and entrepreneurial skills are really interesting.ÌýThe combination of technical and behavioral skills, or of finance, of management, is necessary for engineers to deal with human issues, and not just infrastructure issues.ÌýIndustry connections: working closely with industry in focus groups so students know why companies are hiring, what their needs are, and what to learn to bridge the gap.ÌýThe laboratories and equipment are very impressive.ÌýInfrastructure is also important.ÌýWe need partnerships
within the university and outside.ÌýThis is what motivates the university and the government.

What should French schools learn from you?

: Each company's approach is different.ÌýOur students and staff learn with a different approach as we deal with local issues in Africa.ÌýCooperation should open up French students to a different approach and culture.ÌýThey have to think about our needs.ÌýIn Kenya there are ultimately many more opportunities for start-ups.ÌýThey can create teams.ÌýCompanies can grow by recruiting French and Kenyans into their teams.

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