Chuka Hosts National Training to Drive Sustainability in Universities

Chuka University today hosted the opening of the Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) National Multiplication Training, bringing together university managers from across Kenya to advance sustainability in higher education. The three-day workshop aims to equip academic leaders with the knowledge, tools, and digital competencies needed to integrate sustainability into institutional policies, teaching, research, and operations, in line with Kenya Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The training was officially opened by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Henry Mutembei, with Ms. Margaret Karai, Deputy Director at the DAAD Regional Office in Nairobi, also in attendance. In his remarks, Prof. Mutembei challenged the 20 participants drawn from 16 universities to embrace sustainable leadership by optimizing available resources, fostering innovation, and building strong institutional networks that can multiply impact across the higher education sector. He emphasized that universities must lead by example through responsible governance, efficient resource utilization, and embedding sustainability into their core mandates of teaching, research, and community engagement.

The programme seeks to empower academic leaders to advance sustainability through evidence-based practices, informed decision-making, and collaborative approaches, while strengthening their capacity to leverage digital innovations and develop practical, actionable sustainability projects.

Participants were ushered into the discussions through a keynote address by Prof. Judah Ndiku (MMUST), who called for a reimagining of leadership and governance to drive sustainable transformation in African universities. Subsequent sessions led by Dr. Umulkher Ali (MMUST) explored sustainable governance models and the critical role of universities in advancing the SDGs, with a strong emphasis on strategic alignment, leadership, and institutional resilience in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The afternoon sessions shifted gears from inspiration to strategy, as Prof. Judah Ndiku (MMUST) guided discussions on sustainability strategic planning, challenging universities to define bold yet practical visions for the future. This was followed by hands-on sustainability action mapping led by Dr. Umulkher Ali (MMUST), where ideas began taking structured shape.

The most animated moment came in the form of an Oxford-style debate led by Prof. Erick Fwaya (CU), where participants passionately dissected whether policy or leadership is the true driver of sustainable change. With reflections on past, present, and future sustainability initiatives closing the day, the workshop is clearly igniting transformative thinking across institutions.