On March 10, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Moi University signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for collaboration. Moi is a multi-campus university with its main campus in Eldoret, Kenya.
The relationship with Moi began with Dr. Robert Dooley, Dean of the UTC College of Business. Dooley began working with Moi University in 2008, when he held the position of Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University and brought that relationship with him to UTC. Along with his colleagues, Dooley has worked to facilitate the completion of doctoral degrees for Moi’s faculty.
UTC has been involved with Moi for two years by bringing small groups of Moi and Kenyan faculty to the Chattanooga campus for a week.
The signing ceremony began with a welcome from Dooley and opening comments by UTC Chancellor Steven Angle. Angle welcomed the group and expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. See the video.
“We are delighted to have you here to explore a partnership and determine ways that we can work together,” Angle said. “These types of relationships are so much richer when students and faculty can visit in both directions and learn from one another. I’m looking forward to visiting Kenya in May.”
Moi Vice Chancellor Richard K. Mibey gave a brief presentation and discussed some of the university’s accomplishments and goals. Moi is a relatively young university, Mibey explained. Moi University was established in 1984 by an Act of Parliament as the second public university in Kenya. It is located in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, which is 320 kilometers Northwest of the City of Nairobi.
The university started with 83 students in the faculty of forestry and since then it has expanded into several colleges, campuses and schools with a student population of more than 50,000. To date it has produced more than 150,000 graduates.
“The university currently operates several satellite campuses in several parts of the country to bring education closer to where people are,” Mibey said. “One of goals is to solve the problems unique to those specific areas.”
Mibey, along with Moi University faculty Dr. Thomas Cheruiyot, Dr. Charles Lagat and Dr. Paul Chepkuto, spent a few days touring UTC and Chattanooga before the signing ceremony.
“We are so honored to be hosted by UTC,” Mibey said. “We wanted to see this partnership grow and be strengthened in every way.”
