The University of Eldoret through the Planning, Research and Extension Division is committed as part of her core mandate in reaching out to the local communities in North Rift and the nation at large through the various extension and outreach activities. Through the University’s Outreach Center and the various Schools, the university has been involved in several research extension and outreach activities with the aim of building the capacity and transferring technologies relevant for the improvement of community livelihoods.
In collaboration with the neighboring counties, the university has been able to interact with and transfer relevant technologies both in academics, crop, animal and fish farming to the youth, women and farmers in general. Some of the outreach activities conducted include specialized trainings in Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Busia, Trans Nzoia and Nandi counties. Trainings to farmers in Bungoma and Busia Counties focused on engaging community based organization and early childhood development centers on soya bean value addition, protein-energy malnutrition management among children under 5 years, soil infertility diagnosis and treatments, building of terraces and soil conservation structures by the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology. In West Pokot, the University’s Drylands Farmers Research Network (FRN) Project conducted an outreach to show case the empowerment of communities in Chepararia, West Pokot in their efforts to rehabilitate degraded lands for crop and livestock production including construction of sand dams to mitigate land degradation. The School of Natural Resource Management, conducted the Africa 2030 Water Secure Capacity Gaps and Needs for Water Security; and training farmers current technologies in fish farming.
The School of Environmental Studies conducted Environmental Impact Assessment / Environmental Audit trainings in both the university and the neighbouring counties as a means of encouraging sustainable environmental management. Some of the recent EIA/EA trainings conducted by SENV included; the July 9 -24, 2018 training in Elgeyo-Marakwet County; August 20, 2018 to September 7, 2018 training in UoE; and July 30, 2018 to August 17, 2018 training in Kabarnet, Baringo County. Family and Consumer Science Department organized and conducted an open day from August 10 – 13, 2018. The school of Business and Management Sciences conducted trainings to build capacity of the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI); Enactus Kenya; and, Kenya Revenue Authority.
Apart from the specific outreach programs based on projects, the students from the university also interact actively with our partners in training including schools, industries, research institutions, County and State Departments, civil society organizations and the private sector during industrial attachments.
Currently, University of Eldoret has got 42 active collaborations with various institutions of higher learning, industries and community groups both locally, nationally and internationally on projects addressing various issues in various disciplines