UoN and University of Sopron in Partnership Talks
The University of Nairobi hosted a delegation from University of Sopron, Hungary for a courtesy visit to explore opportunities and available possibilities for collaboration between the two Institutions at the UoN Towers on 27th February, 2025.
The facilitator, Mr. John Orindi, Director of Corporate Affairs welcomed the members on board by providing a brief history of the institution and welcoming Prof. Engineer Siphila Mumenya, the Dean Faculty of Engineering; In her remarks, the Dean expounded that there are a lot of opportunities for synergy, especially with the geospatial department that is exploring the use of sensors to monitor the growth of plants.
The University of Sopron, found in Hungary next to the Australian border is among the oldest university established in 1735 with 4 faculties;
- Faculty of Pedagogy
- Faculty of Forestry
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Wood Engineering and Creative Industries
During a presentation, Dr. Orsolya Szabó, PhD, Senior Research Fellow and Sub-Project Leader, discussed agroforestry practices and research in Hungary, while Dr. Tamás Molnár, PhD, Research Fellow, presented on Tropical Forest Monitoring Using Satellites and Artificial Intelligence. Both experts evaluated the best practices for reforestation and maintaining forest cover across the continent by identifying forest health challenges and proposing viable solutions.
Their insights present an opportunity for collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Engineering, and the Wangari Maathai Institute to enhance Kenya’s forest cover from the current 12% to 30% by 2030. The similarities in the quality of education offered by the institutions highlight the need for partnerships in key areas such as:
Joint research initiatives to attract funding, Erasmus exchange programs for both staff and students, Conferences to disseminate research findings, Online programs to expand accessibility to knowledge
Additionally, discussions on the signing of collaborative agreements (MoUs) are underway, aiming to create synergy between the institutions. Once formalized, these partnerships will not only benefit academicians but also contribute significantly to policy-making and sustainable forest management.
