JKUAT and Curtin University partner to Offer Course On Petroleum Engineering

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology will partner with an Australian university--Curtin University--to train petroleum engineers. This comes after Tullow, an oil exploration company announced that oil deposits in the country are commercially viable.

The university has developed twin syllabuses based on global best practices to train mineral processing and petroleum engineers. "We have already submitted the syllabi to the Engineers Registration Board for approval as stipulated in the Engineering Act 2011," said JKUAT vice chancellor Prof Mabel Imbuga.

Speaking at the university last Wednesday, Imbuga said the collaboration will enable Kenya build train more professionals in thematic fields such as geo-sciences, mineral and process engineering and petroleum engineering, which will be needed once drilling of oil begins.

JKUAT don said they are working with Curtin University to learn how to exploit minerals. The two institutions have consolidated an agreement to jointly roll out the programmes. In the arrangement , students will study at both universities.

Curtin University's Prof David Wood said the move will stem influx of Africans, particularly Kenyans, in western countries for similar training. "We are ready to partner with JKUAT in training engineers to help Kenya meet its mining needs," he said.

Wood said Kenya should also invest in water and hydrology research because mining has the potential of widespread pollution of underground and surface water with catastrophic ramifications. The two were speaking when Wood went to JKUAT to operationalise the collaboration between the two institutions.