By Esther Nalotwesha | 6th January 2026

The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) hosted a delegation from Cornell University, SC Johnson College of Business, USA, for a 10-day academic and experiential study tour. This tour is aimed at advancing research and collaboration on sustainable cooperative models in emerging markets. The visit, which takes place from 6th to 15th January 2026, marks a significant milestone in strengthening international academic partnerships focused on cooperative development.

The delegation comprised two faculty members and four students drawn from Cornell University’s globally renowned business school. The team is led by Prof. Fridah Mubichi-Kut and Prof. Todd Michael Schmit, accompanied by students Kaia Worrell, Miriam Frank, Syed Muhammad Abdullah, and Joseph Gicharu. Their visit to Kenya is anchored within Cornell’s Student Multidisciplinary Applied Research Teams (SMART) Program, an applied learning initiative that integrates field-based research, faculty mentorship, and student engagement to address real-world development challenges.

The SMART study tour is designed to deepen understanding of how cooperative enterprises operate in diverse socio-economic contexts, with a particular focus on the application of International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) principles within Kenya’s vibrant cooperative movement. During their stay, the delegation will engage cooperatives and institutions across Nairobi, Kiambu, and Nyeri counties, examining governance structures, management practices, member participation, and the role of public policy in cooperative sustainability.

In his welcoming remarks, the Vice Chancellor. Prof. Kamau Ngamau formally welcomed the Cornell University delegation to CUK and expressed his appreciation for selecting CUK as a partner institution for the inaugural SMART engagement in Kenya. 

A pre-briefing session was done by Mr. Silas Maiyo and Dr. Victor Wambua, who outlined the purpose and scope of the engagement. They emphasized that the study tour aims not only to collect empirical data but also to expose students and faculty from both institutions to practical cooperative environments, thereby enriching teaching, learning, and research outcomes.

It was noted that data collected during the field engagements will support graduate-level research, particularly for master’s students, and contribute to comparative studies on cooperatives in emerging markets. The delegation is expected to interact with a wide range of cooperative forms, including coffee, housing, dairy, transport, and savings and credit cooperatives, as well as county-level cooperative development offices. The meeting also reflected on earlier academic exchanges, including a previous visit to Cornell University by Dr. Lydia Mutua, underscoring the continuity and growing depth of the CUK–Cornell relationship.

Speaking during the session, Prof. Todd Michael Schmit highlighted the academic motivation behind the study tour, noting that the team seeks to examine how ICA principles are interpreted and implemented by cooperative management and county authorities in Kenya. He underscored the importance of understanding how these principles translate into operational effectiveness, member value, and long-term sustainability within diverse cooperative contexts.

The Dean, School of Cooperative and Community Development, Dr. Lucy Ngare, welcomed the delegation and expressed optimism about the outcomes of the engagement, noting that the University looks forward to the research findings and to expanding collaboration with Cornell University across multiple disciplines. She reaffirmed CUK’s openness to joint research, staff and student exchanges, and co-publication initiatives that advance cooperative knowledge and practice.

In his remarks, Prof. Todd Niemann emphasized the critical role of empirical data in validating cooperative research and informing policy and practice. He observed that cooperatives contribute an estimated 40 percent of Kenya’s economy, making research essential to understanding their effectiveness, resilience, and development impact. He noted that insights from the Kenyan cooperative sector would provide valuable comparative perspectives for global cooperative scholarship.

Beyond academic discussions, the programme includes field visits and stakeholder engagements with key cooperative institutions such as CUK–Institute of Cooperative Development (ICD), the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK), ICA-Africa, Limuru Dairy Cooperative, National Police DT SACCO, 2NK Transport Cooperative, and the County Government of Nyeri, among others. These engagements are intended to provide first-hand exposure to cooperative operations, governance dynamics, and policy environments.

The inaugural SMART engagement is strategically positioned as a foundation for a long-term partnership between The Co-operative University of Kenya and Cornell University. Future collaboration is expected to encompass joint research projects, longitudinal field studies, data collection and analysis, student and faculty exchanges, and co-authored publications that advance cooperative education and practice globally.

As a leading institution dedicated to cooperative education, research, and outreach, CUK continues to position itself as a global hub for cooperative knowledge. Hosting the Cornell University delegation not only reinforces CUK’s international profile but also affirms its commitment to fostering evidence-based research, global partnerships, and innovative learning models that strengthen cooperatives as engines of inclusive and sustainable development.