UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
22 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2017
USIU-Africa celebrates annual community service day By Antonio Longangi & Dan Muchai
Photo: Antonio Longangi Pupils at Kiwanja Secondary School carry tree seedlings donated by USIU-Africa for planting along the School’s boundary, during this year’s Freida Brown Day on Friday, September 22. Over 400 students, faculty and staff showed up at
Kiwanja Secondary School Principal Ms. Nancy Wangechi
continue striving to provide the very best
Kiwanja Secondary School on Friday, September 22 to
Munene, expressed her gratitude for the KES 350000 in
education to their students.
mark USIU-Africa annual community service day –
value
Freida Brown Day. The focus of the day’s events was
newly-established
whose
The day concluded with some team sports feature
Kiwanja Secondary School – a relatively new school of
students are drawn mainly from the informal settlements
students, staff and faculty, before culminating in
320 pupils located on the outskirt of Kasarani
that ring the school.
the annual barbeque served from various points
donated
by
USIU-Africa,
but
ill-equipped
on
behalf
institution,
of
the
on the university’s lawns.
sub-county. The Vice Chancellor expressed his appreciation to those Over two hundred trees were planted, classrooms,
members of the university community who turned up for the
toilets and yards cleaned, and office and classroom
cleanup, and also encouraged the school’s management to
furniture donated.
FREIDA BROWN DAY 2017 PICTORIAL
A USIU-Africa student assists the Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza rearrange a classroom during cleanup activities at Kiwanja Secondary School on Friday, September 22 to mark Freida Brown Day 2017.
Treasury Accountant Ms. Judy Mungai, mentors Kiwanja Secondary Schools students on Friday, September 22 to mark Freida Brown Day 2017.
Ms. Marura Nyambu (Office Administrator, Finance Division) and Ms. Jackline Chirchir (Principal Marketing and Communications Officer, External Communications) participate in cleanup activities at Kiwanja Secondary School on Friday, September 22 to mark Freida Brown Day 2017.
Miss Akual Chan Awer, Criminal Justice Sophomore and contestant for Miss USIU-Africa 2017, participates in cleanup activities at Kiwanja Secondary School on Friday, September 22 to mark Freida Brown Day 2017.
A university pick-up van carrying some of the furniture donated by USIU-Africa to Kiwanja Secondary School is unloaded on Friday, September 2 22 during this year’s Freida Brown Day 2017 activities.
Procurement Officer Ms. Lucy Wambua (left) participate in meal (lunch) preparation at Kiwanja Secondary School on Friday, September 22 to mark Freida Brown Day 2017.
Students and staff participate in a teambuilding event during the afternoon festivities marking the conclusion of this year’s Freida Brown Day 2017.
Photos: Antonio Longangi & Victor Mshindi
22 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2017
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
USIU-Africa to host week-long film festival By Dan Muchai & Jackline Chirchir
USIU-Africa will be hosting the week-long MIKTA Film Festival; a slew of five films from Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Australia and Turkey to be screened between 4pm and 7pm from Monday, October 2, to Friday, October 6. The Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza will be present at the launch, together with envoys from each of the five members of MIKTA - an informal partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia. The Mexican documentary film – Visa al paraíso (Visa to Paradise) is set during the Second World War, when Gilberto Bosques, Mexico's General Consul to France, issued thousands of passports to Jews and Spaniards displaced from occupied Germany and Spain. On Tuesday, October 5, the Indonesian film - The
The Girl with the Red Scarf is an award-winning 1978
travels to Turkey soon after the famous First World
debut novel of the same name. The story follows Ikal
Turkish romantic drama about village girl who falls in
War Battle of Gallipoli, to try and locate his three
and Litang, students from an Indonesian island,
love with a truck driver from the Turkey’s economic,
missing soldier sons, following the death of their
battling against overwhelming poverty and corruption,
cultural, and historic center, Istanbul. The movie, which
grieving mother.
crumbling infrastructure and low self-confidence.
was voted one of the ten best Turkish Films by the
Rainbow Troops – based on the breakout bestselling
Train to Busan is a 2016 South Korean action thriller
Ankara Cinematic Association will be screened on
The MIKTA Film Festival has been organized by the
Thursday, October 5.
Korean Embassy, and is an initiative that builds on USIU-Africa stated agenda of forging relationships
film about a zombie apocalypse that threatens the survival of an eclectic group of train passengers. The
The
festival’s
final
film
with
the
2014
film, which set a Korean audience record for 2016, will
American-Australian war drama film -The Water
stakeholders, to create value for the entire university
be screened on Wednesday, October 6.
Diviner - a story about man (Russell Crowe) who
community. Entry will be free.
with
various
industry
players
and
engaging
Journalism professor reviews book on Arab media moguls A book review article by Dr. Kioko Ireri, an Associate
role in business and succession, types of risks taken
Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication
in media business, styles of management, and
has been published in the current issue of Journalism
moguls’ relationship with inner circles of political
and Mass Communication Quarterly (JMCQ) - the
power.
world’s oldest journal in the journalism field, since 1924. The reviewed book, “Arab Media Moguls” is
Justifying the significance of the book, the authors
edited by Donatella Della Ratta, Naomi Sakr, and
argue that Arab media matter, and so too do Arab
Jakob
a
media moguls. Therefore, the Arab World provides
Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Copenhagen
fertile grounds for investigating media moguldom.
while Prof. Skovgaard-Petersen is Professor of Arabic
Similarly, Ratta and colleagues contend this is an
and Islamic Studies same university. Prof. Sakr is
important topic of analysis because first and foremost,
Professor of Media Policy at the Communication and
in the last twenty years, a group of Arab media moguls
Media Research Institute (CAMRI) at the University of
has
Westminster, and is also Director of CAMRI’s Arab
state-owned media of individual Arab states, and built
Media Centre.
companies for the pan-Arab market; and secondly the
Skovgaard-Petersen.
Ms.
Ratta
is
emerged,
successfully
challenged
the
specific political, social, and economic circumstances “Arab Media Moguls” analyzes careers and positions
of the Arab world have created a distinct specimen of
of influential media moguls in the Arab World.
the
Specifically, the volume examines a set of features
privatization in the Middle East region have also
associated with media moguls—family roots, family
contributed to the emergence of Arab media moguls.
media
mogul.
Media
liberalization
and
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22 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2017
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
How we did it: entrepreneurs tell their stories at Innovation Center By Antonio Longangi
discussed the “Ins and Outs of Arts and Photography Business” on Tuesday, September
26,
while
MA
Communication Studies student and award-wining makeup artist – Kangai Mwiti - shared advice on the business of fashion and beauty. 4UP Digital Agency Director Richard Njau wrapped up the day with a talk on “Scaling a Digital Marketing Business”. Gerphas Odipo, Director at Judera Celebrity photographer Mr. Victor Peace expounds to his audience on the Ins and Outs of the Photography Businesses to his student audience, during his talk, that was part of the Entrepreneurship Week 2017. Photo: Dan Muchai
Makeup Artist, Beauty Consultant and Digital Strategist Kangai Mwiti explains how she made it in her digital business and beauty consultancy Photo: Dan Muchai
Group spoke on running a successful agri-business
on
Wednesday,
September 27, and was followed by an investor pitching session beginning at 4pm. Dr. Manu Chandaria (USIU-Africa
The New Economic Venture Accelerator organized a series of
facilitate the acquisition of practical knowledge for their
Chancellor), Darshan Chandaria, (CEO
talks
enterprises.
and Director at Chandaria Industries
September 22 to Wednesday, September 27 at the Innovation
The week kicked off with the Ashoka Foundation’s conference
Limited), Peter Nduati (Founder, Director
and Incubation Center. Renowned entrepreneurs offered
on the subject “Youth in Entrepreneurship” on Friday, September
dubbed
“Entrepreneurship
Week”
from
Friday,
advice on how they began their ventures, and how they avoided the pitfalls that come with building a business from the ground up. The initiative is designed to promote entrepreneurship and
22. Alumnus Dennis Mugambi, founder of Moran Sport Travel, shared on “Launching your ideal business venture” on Monday, September 25, followed by Ink Productions’ founder Ms. Janet
incubate student businesses, as well as facilitate coaching,
Mwaluda, who made a presentation on “Starting a successful
training, mentoring, networking and linkage with potential
entertainment business”. Ink Productions is the film production
investors.
and distribution company behind “Nairobi Diaries” – the Kenyan
The entrepreneurship week had a set of activities conceived to
hit reality show currently airing on local television station – K24.
put student entrepreneurs at the center of its discussions and
Celebrity fashion and lifestyle photographer Victor Peace
and
Chief
Executive
at
Resolution
Health East Africa) provided sound business
advice
to
students
who
pitched for funding for their nascent businesses. The entrepreneurship week is the first of a series of activities at the Innovation and Incubation Center, based on such themes
as
machine
learning,
entrepreneurship design thinking, and android application development.
Chancellor Dr. Manu Chandaria (center) and Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza (left) listen as an alumnus pitches for funding for his golf training business during the pitching session of the Entrepreneurship Week held on Wednesday, September 27. Photo: Antonio Longangi
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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
22 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2017
PACS Feature: START SMART. START AHEAD. By Ruth Amiani
Landing a job after university is dependent on a lot of factors such as job search skills, updated documents,
Table showing actual period of employment
experiential learning and knowledge on industry trends. Additionally, a strong personal brand is as fundamental as outstanding academic qualifications. Tailoring a long-term plan or venturing into new possibilities for your future career can empower you as you encounter difficulties in facing the current job market. It is therefore highly advisable that students don’t wait until their final days in university to visit Career Services to chart their future. Unfortunately, only a few students take advantage of the assistance the university offers through the Office of Career Services. Many students wait until they graduate to think about their future workplace, in spite
3 months of Commencement, while only 33% of
placements as soon as they join the university. Thus,
the opportunities offered n campus, to acquire
employed alumni searched for jobs more than a year
preparing for a job should be done long before one
knowledge and experience that can best prepare them
after Commencement. Therefore, it is evident that
needs it.
for employment or entrepreneurship.
there’s a huge correlation between the time they began
According to the First Destination Survey conducted
searching for employment and the actual time they
The Office of Career Services is located on the 1st
received employment.
Floor of the Freida Brown Student Center, and can also
by Career Services which targeted members of the
be reached on email (careeroffice@usiu.ac.ke) or on
Class of 2016, within six months of graduation, 25.6%
It is these findings that should drive students to explore
of respondents received full employment offers within
their career options, self-employment potential and job
phone (+254) 730 116 778/796/803.
Annual beauty pageant to launch this Wednesday By Antonio Longangi
The annual charity beauty pageant Mr. & Miss USIU-Africa set for this Fall 2017, will be holding a Pageant Launch on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5, October 2017 behind the Cafeteria from 9 am to 4 pm. The Pageant Launch aims to introduce contestants and this year’s charity to the USIU-Africa community through a series of activities that will engage contestants and feature pupils from the beneficiary of this year’s pageant - Al Tawoon Education Center. It will also kick start fundraising activities comprising donations, sales and exhibitions to be held over the course of the two-day pageant launch. The pageant’s committee has a target of KES 1.4 million; funds that will assist Al Tawoon Education Center located in the sprawling informal settlement of Korogosho, set up the basic educational infrastructure, that will enable the school qualify for financial support from the national government. Other activities include “Pre-Judging” showcase of talent and skill from each of the contestants on Thursday, November 2, and the pageant finals to be held at East Africa’s largest and newest shopping mall Two Rivers Mall on Thursday, November 16.
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Photo: Vivian Wacira Fitness Instructor Mr. Geofrey Murundo (right) takes contestants for this year’s Mr & Miss USIU-Africa beauty pageant through a fitness drill during a session on Tuesday, September 12 in the Freida Brown Student Center’s Aerobics Room.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
22 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2017
Podcast series launches with interview of IST alum By Lochemem Bruno Michael
This week I invited a member of the Information
which culminated in his election as IT Club President in
Through the Full Stack Podcast Series’ first season, I
Systems and Technology Class of 2017 Mr. Victor
2016 during his junior year.
intend to engage diverse speakers on topics designed to
Mshindi for the first Full Stack podcast from the
evangelize
IT
best
practices
to
campus
School of Science and Technology. The conversation
Finally, I engaged Mr. Mshindi engaged each other in a
stakeholders, over the course of this semester. The
revolved around a myriad of topics first of which was
discussion on how the delivery of IT programs can be
podcast
Mr. Mshindi’s experience as a newly-minted alumnus.
improved. He believes that there is significant room for
soundcloud.com/usiuafrica
Drawing on his personal growth having joined
improvement in terms of pedagogy as well as offering a
USIU-Africa as the youngest undergraduate ever, Mr.
broader array of subjects such as Artificial Intelligence,
The writer is the Academic Representative for the
Mshindi dwelt on the importance of having mentors
Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing.
School of Science and Technology, the School of
such
Computer
Mr. Mshindi also dwelt on how the emergence of
Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the School of
Technology junior) and Mr. Wina Kamlongera (MA
campus IT communities can contribute to the reduction
Communication, Creative and Cinematic Arts, in the
International Relations Class of 2016). These mentors,
of student apathy. A good example is the on-going
Student Affairs Council.
according to him, were responsible in large part for his
PyConKE Conference taking place from September
significant involvement in co-curricular IT activities,
28-29 on campus.
as
Mr.
Paul
Bombo
(Applied
will
soon
available
for
download
on
CONGRATULATIONS: Mr. Bonfas Salano (Senior Student Affairs Officer) has been appointed as Vice Chairperson of the Technical and Sports Regulations Committee of the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) until March 2019.
Media Mentions 29 September: One of USIU-Africa’s staff was featured in article by the Daily Nation titled ‘ Employment or freelancing? The pros and cons’ http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1100-daily-nation-employment-or-freelancing-the-pros-and-cons
29 September: An article by The Star newspaper titled ‘Co-op Bank, Lions encounter headlines weekend fixtures’ mentioned USIU-Africa. http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1101-the-star-co-op-bank-lions-encounter-headlines-weekend-fixtures 27 September: Peacefmonline mentioned USIU-Africa in an article titled ‘Employees Are Biggest Cyber Security Threat’
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1099-peacefmonline-com-employees-are-biggest-cyber-security-threat 26 September: Punchng.com mentioned USIU-Africa in article titled ‘African universities battle hacking, cyber crimes’
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1098-punchng-com-african-universities-battle-hacking-cyber-crimes 24 September: Standard Media reported a story mentioning USIU-Africa titled ‘Hockey Scorpions Lose sting against Amira Sailors’
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1097-standard-media-hockey-scorpions-lose-sting-against-amira-sailors 22 September: USIU-Africa was mentioned in article titled “Universities face an age of cybercrime” by universityworldnews.com http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1096-university-world-news-universities-face-an-age-of-cybercrime 21 September: Daily Nation featured one of our alumni in an article titled ‘TAKE 5 Ivan Irakoze’
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/1095-daily-nation-take-5-ivan-irakoze
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