HKMU Fifth Graduation Ceremony
On 24th November 2007, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (HKMU) successfully hosted the 5th Graduation Ceremony, and conferred degrees, and awarded diplomas and certificates to a total of 76. graduands. 26 graduands were conferred the Doctor of Medicine Degree, 1 graduand was conferred the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, 1 graduand was conferred the Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatrics, 29 graduands were awarded Diplomas in Nursing, and 19 graduands were awarded Certificates in Wholistic Therapeutic Counseling.
Part of academic procession at the 5th graduation ceremony
Chairman of the University Prof. Fredrick Kaijage, addressing the audience at the 5th Graduation ceremony
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Keto Mshigeni, conveyed a special message of congratulations to all graduands on their individual and collective achievements. Prof. Mshigeni also commended the University's Lecturers, Professors, and other staff for their facilitating and mentoring roles.
He expressed appreciation to parents, guardians, sponsors and friends of the graduands, for their enabling roles, and also for their sustained interest and confidence in the University. Apart from awards of certificates and diplomas, and conferment of degrees to the HKMU graduates, best students were also awarded prizes and certificates by the University Chancellor.
The occasion attracted many dignitaries and academicians from various institutions. These included Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Vice Chancellors and Principals, representatives from various Universities, hundreds of friends, neighbours, well wishers and the public.
Reflecting on the achievements of HKMU during the 10 years of its existence, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that there are sufficient grounds for pride, for gratitude and commendation to the Founder of the institution, the Late Professor Hubert Kairuki, and to the Co-Founder, Mrs. KokushubiJa Kairuki, as outlined below:
Number of enrolled students:
When the University began in 1997, it had an enrolment of only 4 students. During the 2007/2008 academic year, the total enrolment had grown to 506 students, distributed as follows:
Students' enrolment statistics 2007/2008
HKMU Graduates:
The feedback we continue to receive from institutions where HKMU graduates are now working, and where they have been admitted for higher degree studies, is very positive and gratifying: they are doing very well.
Competition with other students:
At a recent Celtel Africa Challenge among students from 10 Universities in Tanzania, HKMU students occupied the top position among the selected 4 winners, who will now compete at regional level in January 2008, in Kampala, Uganda.
Qualify of our students:
The increased public awareness on quality offerings at HKMU has continued to attract a large number of strong applicants for admission from within our country, and also from other countries. Our university sees the merits of continuing to reserve ample space for applicants from the international community. This stimulates cross-fertilization of ideas, the sharing of experiences, and cultural diffusion.
It also catalyses global human understanding, interaction, and unity. Since its inception, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University has admitted students from countries such as Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Kenya, U.K. USA, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in addition to those from our country. Some of our Certificates courses have continued to attract stakeholders from a wide spectrum of professionals. The University's course in Wholistic Therapeutic Counseling, for example, has been attended by a growing number of individuals, occupying high management positions, including senior academics and professionals from various institutions in the country.
Research development: With regard to the University's function of extending frontiers of knowledge through research, the Vice Chancellor reported that: Despite the relatively heavy work load of the academic staff, research continued to receive the University's attention. Some of the research activities involved
partnerships with peers from sister institutions in Tanzania and abroad.
These included:
- Collaborative research activities on malaria, with scientists from Harvard University, under the leadership of Prof. Esther D. Mwaikambo, Vice Chancellor Emeritus.
- Collaborative research on molecular genetics and the human genome, with scientists from Yale University Medical School, under the leadership of Prof. Sylvester Kajuna, the University's Director of Postgraduate Studies and Research.
- Additionally, we initiated discussions and catalysed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, China; the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Toronto, Canada; and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, on the development of selected medicinal mushrooms as nutriceutical therapies for improving human health. This partnership has provision for staff development.
Visiting Professors:
Following the University's consultations with the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), based in Trieste, Italy, we secured the short-term secondment of an eminent Professor, Dr. Manuel Limonta from Havana, Cuba, who will help to energise our University in research and teaching. Also through the involvement of Health Span International based in the United States, we also secured a short-term secondment of Professor Georg Feichter of the Institute of Pathology, Basel, Switzerland, who visited our institution a few months ago, and who will continue to collaborate with our University in some of our research and training agenda in human Pathology.
Development partners:
Also during the year, HKMU initiated discussions with other Development Partners, including the Tokushukai Medical Corporation in Tokyo, and Touch Foundation in the U.S.A., which, we hope, may generate positive results towards securing support for sustained growth of the University, the Teaching Hospital, and the Mikocheni School of Nursing.
Outline of some of the positive developments of HKMU during the year:
- Phase I of the new Students' Hostel, built through a soft loan secured from the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA), was completed and occupied by our students. It is an excellent facility.
- Lecture Halls and Teaching Laboratories were expanded, partly through the loan fund secured from TEA, and also from the University's own funds.
- The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, continued to provide sponsorships and study loans to students enrolled for our Doctor of Medicine programme, through the Higher Education Loan Board. Currently, 85% of the Tanzanian students enrolled in the programme are supported by Government.
- During the year the Government agreed to also offer sponsorships and study loans to students enrolled in our Bachelor of Nursing degree programme.
In his concluding remarks, the Vice Chancellor, on behalf of the University Management, thanked the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) for their support, which, he hoped, will be sustained. He requested various Development Partners to assist higher learning institutions so as enable them realize their objectives, which are consonant with national aspirations.
The Vice Chancellor urged the graduands to realise that the call into the health profession requires: Love for duty and service, love for learning, intellectual curiosity about medicine, nursing, and counseling; strong desire to help others, and enjoying the rendering of service to the needy in society. "As you receive degrees, diplomas, and certificates bearing the name, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, and as you go out to serve society, our expectation is that you will demonstrate these qualities, and also be characterised by each of the desirable attributes and virtues, that we have shared with you during our various interactions and consultations'', emphasized the Vice Chancellor.
Moreover, he urged them to be humble, honest, and respectful, under all circumstances. "Humility is the road to greatness. Honesty is the surest way to trustworthiness. Respectfulness will bring you joy and harmony with others. You will be kind, responsive, and helpful to others. This will earn you friends, make you always happy, and bring you peace of mind. You will be open-minded, creative, innovative, and visionary. This will catalyse in you the power to solve problems and to see things and solutions which others have not dreamed of before, in your chosen field of study", he concluded.
During the 5th Graduation Ceremony the Chairman of the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University Council, Professor Fredrick Kaijage, also delivered a powerful, visionary, and motivating speech.
Addressing the audience. Prof. Kaijage thanked the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for its tireless support to HKMU. He also thanked Professors and lecturers of HKMU, for the hard work and commitment they have demonstrated, despite the limited resources of the institution. He advised the outgoing students to adhere to highest ethical standards, commitment to hard work, and to life-long learning. He also urged them to fight against unethical behaviours which are increasing day after day in their profession. He mentioned specifically corruption, fraud, and negligence, as a "Social Cancer" in our society, which requires immediate attention.
Prof. Kaijage expressed concern on the deteriorating quality of education in the country. He additionally requested all stakeholders to accept that there is a problem, not only in the low level of understanding the English language, but also in our education system at large, especially at lower levels. He proposed the use of two languages for teaching and learning (bilingualism), i.e., Kiswahili and English concurrently, and called for improvement in teaching and learning facilities at all levels of education. He finally urged graduands to take heed of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which kills a big percentage of the youth in the nation every year.