By Rita Mwabonje
Kenya Coast National Polytechnic held a Stakeholders’ forum on 17th March 2021 at the Voyager Beach and Resort. A total of 57 Stakeholders from different Maritime Organizations including, Kenya National Shipping Line, Women in Maritime Sector (Womesa), Kenya Coast Guard Services, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Ferry Services, Voyager Beach and Resort among others attended.
The Principal Secretary State Department of Maritime and Shipping Affairs, Ms Nancy Karigithu and the Principal Secretary State Department of Vocational and Technical Training Dr Margaret Mwakima graced the event. The Polytechnic was represented by the EASTRIP Industry Advisory Board, two Polytechnic Council Members and the EASTRIP Project Implementation Unit. The Industry players promised to assist the Polytechnic in various ways, including but not limited to:
- Providing opportunities for students and staff attachment
- Assisting in the development of competence based curriculum
- Facilitating students and staff exchange programmes with regional and international Institutions
- Recommending regional students to train at the Polytechnic
- Linking the Polytechnic to recruitment agencies
- Providing employment opportunities to the Polytechnic graduates
- Providing opportunities for students to acquire sea time
- Entering into collaborations with Industries and education Institutions
- Sharing of equipment and facilities for effective training
- Linking experienced Captains, Marine Officers and other professionals with the Polytechnic to train or give motivational talks to trainees.
It was a fruitful engagement and the Polytechnic intends to hold similar forums in the coming days.
The Writer is a Communication Officer at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic
