A delegation led by UNIVEN’s Senior Professor Georges Ekosse which included Mr Takalani Dzaga, Ms Pinkie Mukhuba and Mrs Livhuwani Nemaangani had an intensive planning session on the forthcoming International Research Congress, from Wednesday 28 – Friday 30 June 2017 at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kakamega, Kenya. Mr Dzaga serves as Co-Chairperson of the Communications and Markeing Committe, whereas both Ms Mukhuba and Mrs Nemaangani are members of the Logistics Committee organising the congress.
The decision to have an International Reserach Congress in Africa was hatched by five Vice Chancellors during the 2nd UNIVEN – WSU International Research Conference held at The Ranch Polokwane on the 5th – 7th October 2016. The five Vice Chancellors from the collaborating universities include:
• Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of Venda (UNIVEN)– Professor Peter Mbati;
• Vice Chancellor, Walter Sisulu University (WSU) – Professor Rob Midgley;
• Vice Chancellor and CEO, Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) – Professor Fredrick O Otieno;
• Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI) – Professor Abel I Olayinka; and
• Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) –
Professor Otlogetswe Totolo.
During the deliberations, it was agreed that the five institutions have a rotational hosting of major activities. Professor Otieno willingly offered to play host to the first congress, and Professor Georges Ekosse was assigned to coordinate the activities of the quintet institutions.
This maiden International Research Congress is scheduled to take place from
03-06 December 2017 at MMUST. The planning session which constituted members of the Scientific, Logistics, and Communication and Marketing Committees was well attended and dealt with critical issues related to the upcoming International Congress. The interesting and productive planning session was one of the products of the already existing MoU between the University of Venda and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Senior Prof. Ekosse, who is coordinating the planning , and also is the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee reminded the participants about the need to have all the collaborating universities play a major role in the planning of this congress. Colleagues from the other collaborating universities will eventually be opportuned to make their inputs.
Organising Committee members pose for a photo shortly after the congress planning planning session on 30 June 2017 at MMUST.
According to Prof. Judith Achoka, Director Research and Extension at MMUST, there is good progress as far as the preparations for the congress are concerned and the planning is at an advanced stage. She added that the Organising Committee is expecting a mammoth gathering of scholars from all types of disciplines, pointing out that the deadline for submission of abstracts is still
20 October, 2017. She encouraged staff collaborating universities to send their abstracts in response to the congress call. The Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), MMUST, Professor William Shivoga has been assigned to ensure that decisions arrived at during the Planning Session are implemented. An important meeting of members of the Oversight Committee co-chaired by the DVC Academic, UNIVEN – Professor Jan Crafford and Professor William Shivoga is scheduled to take place within the next three weeks.
Issued by:
Department of Communications and Marketing
University of Venda
Tel: 015 962 8525
Date: 05 July 2017
