A Team of Staff and Students Set to Travel to Italy as MMUST Hosts Two Professors from University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy Courtesy of the WAGON2Africa Project
A group of staff and students from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is set to travel to Italy, courtesy of the WAter enerGy fOod Nexus 2 Africa (WAGON2Africa) project, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research through the TransNational Educational (TNE) initiatives. MMUST hosted two (2) Professors of the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy, Prof. Alessandro Rubino and Prof. Michele Zema, from 28th September, 2025 to 4th October, 2025, to interact with staff, students and the community, for the purpose of forging a long-term partnership. The WAGON2Africa project aims to develop a network of Italian and African Universities to stimulate cooperation and share good practices, with a focus on the water-energy-food nexus and related issues. MMUST is a partner in this project, and Dr. Benjamin Victor Odari, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Physics, is the academic representative for the University in this initiative. MMUST’s Prof. Levi Akundabweni and Dr. Umulkher Ali also play a major role in this project as collaborators, representatives and experts in Agriculture and Economics respectively.
The visiting Professors had the opportunity to meet with the Vice Chancellor-Prof. Solomon Shibairo as well as a number of University Managers, including the Director of International Relations and Academic Linkages (DIAL)-Dr. Umulkher Ali and the Director of Research and Postgraduate Support (DRPS)-Prof. Francis Orata. Prof. Shibairo officially welcomed the guests to the University during a courtesy call to his office, where he stated that he looked forward to formalizing the partnership between MMUST and the University of Bari Aldo Moro (UniBA) by signing a Collaborative Agreement.
The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Solomon Shibairo receives a gift from Prof. Alessandro Rubino of the University of Bari Aldo Moro-Italy. Pictured in front with them from left are; Dr. Umulkher Ali, Dr. Benjamin Victor Odari and Prof. Michele Zema.
On Wednesday, 1st October, 2025, Prof. Rubino and Prof. Zema met with the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning, Research and Innovation)-Prof. Peter Bukhala, in a forum that involved staff and students from various disciplines, and one that saw the parties discuss the details of the collaboration further. Speaking at this meeting, Prof. Bukhala pointed out that this visit showcased the collaborative nature of academia, adding that he was eager to see the good practices shared in the WAGON2Africa project integrated into the MMUST curriculum. “I appreciate Dr. Odari for once again bringing such a transformative project to the University. I am glad that this partnership has incorporated many of our students, and I call on the involved institutions to advance this collaboration to where we can have Italian scholars become our adjunct Professors and vice versa,” said the Deputy Vice Chancellor.
He urged the MMUST students scheduled to travel to Italy to create time to explore the country and what it has to offer, saying that this will help them to improve their depth of knowledge in terms of world global history and academics. He added, “as a University, we are cognizant that exchange programmes contribute significantly to our internationalization agenda, and therefore having more students coming in from other countries is a plus for us.”
Prof. Alessandro Rubino makes a presentation during one of the sessions at MMUST.
“This visit aims to primarily establish a long-term partnership, which will provide mutual benefits to all parties, particularly by enhancing their understanding of research opportunities both in Italy and Kenya,” stated Prof. Rubino during the meeting with the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning, Research and Innovation). Similarly, Prof. Zema acknowledged Prof. Bukhala’s call to have them as adjunct Professors at MMUST, as well as the idea of taking the partnership to the next level. “I believe in knowledge and cultural exchange, and that is what the mobility programme under this project is about,” he reiterated.
Dr. Odari revealed that seven (7) students from MMUST are set to travel to Italy for a period of two months, starting from October this year. “This is courtesy of the academic research mobility programme, within the WAGON2Africa project. The students, 2 in Materials Science, 2 in Agriculture and 3 in Economics, will visit either of the two institutions in Italy, namely the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the University of Foggia,” remarked Dr. Odari, adding that staff from MMUST will also have the opportunity to visit Italy in January, 2026. He thanked Prof. Shibairo for accepting the invitation to lead the delegation of collaborators in the project to Italy, where MMUST and UniBA are expected to sign a Memorandum of Association on teaching and research partnerships. Further, Dr. Odari echoed that this initiative has brought on board many institutions of higher learning from Italy and Africa to support the goal of the project.
From left; Dr. Benjamin Victor Odari, Prof. Michele Zema and Prof. Alessandro Rubino at the Vice Chancellor’s office during the courtesy call.
The visit to MMUST by the two Professors saw a series of departmental presentations by staff and students, cutting across Materials Science, Economics and Agriculture in a two-day symposium. There were discussions regarding specialized lectures and joint research projects on solar energy conversion, development of dedicated energy research groups in MMUST, smart agriculture, as well as capacity building in sustainable energy policy and economic modelling in the Kenyan context. Notably, students travelling to Italy were taken through a session aimed at preparing them for their upcoming trip. Prof. Rubino and Prof. Zema also visited the School of Natural Sciences (SONAS), School of Business and Economics (SOBE) and the School of Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences and Technology (SAVET), where they engaged with staff on ways of strengthening the collaboration between MMUST and UniBA. These discussions centered on joint teaching and research, and the possibility of having joint Degrees in the near future.
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is dedicated to not just academic excellence, but to global partnerships. MMUST’s participation in the WAGON2Africa project is a clear indication of this commitment, and there is no doubt that this collaboration will enhance the University research capacity, promote innovation and encourage sustainable development in the country and beyond.
By Wangari Wambugu
Photos by Shiundu Masafu
