The 7th Graduation Ceremony of The Co-operative University of Kenya was graced by several stakeholders from the government, with Hon. Simon K. Chelugui, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperative and MSMEs Development, as the Chief Guest. The success of our 3019 (with 1937 female and 1082 male graduates) graduating cohort of December 2022 was witnessed with jubilation by the University fraternity, parents, guardians, and benefactors. It was among the few physical graduation ceremonies held in higher learning institutions after COVID-19 ravaged our globe, continent, and mother country, Kenya.
CS Hon. Simon K. Chelugui During the Reception at The Co-operative University of Kenya
The graduation ceremony theme, “Leveraging on Co-operative Advantage to Drive Bottom-Up Economic Growth,” was strategic in articulating the University’s key mandate and furthering the government’s agenda through the Bottom-Up model of achieving the projected economic development. The chief guest, Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Simon K. Chelugui said, “By the end of 2021, there were over 26,000 registered co-operatives with an accumulated membership of over 14 million. With an accumulated total asset base of over KShs 1.5 trillion, the sector had savings of over KShs. 1 trillion. In addition, approximately 30% of Kenya’s annual savings are through co-operatives. Aware of this potential, the government has set up the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development.”
Cabinet Secretary Hon. Simon K. Chelugui (centre) Pose for a Photo with The CUK Management Board and The University Chair of Council, Dr. Jeremy Bundi
The economic growth in Kenya, Africa, and beyond depends on the requisite skills, knowledge, and expertise acquired through education offered in our learning institutions. “As the titular head of the University, I take great pride in developing new market-driven academic programmes that the university continues to undertake,” Dr. Jeremy Bundi, the Ag. Chancellor of The CUK stated. The University has played a paramount role in harnessing the immense potential of the young people who enrol in academic programmes offered with a clearly defined purpose of producing the much-demanded human capital for our labour market at local, regional, and international job markets.
CPA Johnson Njuguna, the Representative of the PS State Department of University Education and Research, Signs the Visitors Book in the Presence of the CUK Council Members and The University Management Board Members.
CUK takes diligent initiatives to ensure the relevance of education and training by integrating competency-based programmes into its curriculum. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kamau Ngamau, noted, “The University is also participating in the ongoing conversation around Competency Based Curriculum and is preparing herself to admit the first batch of CBC students into the University in the academic year 2028/2029.” In line with the government’s agenda of ensuring relevance in Kenya’s higher education, the University stays abreast of the developments in the Ministry of Education.
Graduates after Conferment of Degrees and Award of Diplomas at The University Graduation Square
The University relates very closely with the fact that excellence does not exist in a vacuum but is achieved through diligence and dedication with a ruthless focus on the objective. In this regard, CUK has featured on the global map in academia by producing two students who participated in the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon Competition and made it to the finals. Progress can be measured in numerous ways; however, the most definitive way is through meritocracy, whereby achievement speaks for itself. CUK has done this, and its successes defend its credibility to produce competent graduates.