RUC 2nd GRADUATION: LIST OF THE GRADUANTS

       

RUC will be having its second graduation on Friday the 14^th of this month (November), several graduands will be conferred with various degrees, Diplomas, Certificate and MSCs.

You can now download the list of the graduands here Graduation-List

RUC 2nd GRADUATION: LIST OF THE GRADUANTS

       

RUC will be having its second graduation on Friday the 14^th of this month (November), several graduands will be conferred with various degrees, Diplomas, Certificate and MSCs.

You can now download the list of the graduands here Graduation-List

THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF :MARY WANGARE EXPOSED

When nominations were held for the position of Editor-In-Chief, several people submitted their papers but only one MARY WANGARE made it. Regardless of the issues that surrounded her nomination, she has remained strong and defied odds, finally she’s made it with the publication of GOLDCAMP Magazine.

We sought to dig deeper to know who Mary Wangare is.

                                                     

https://www.facebook.com/kamary.gypsy

Tsamparada daily: Who is Mary Wangare?

Wangare: Mary is a young lady, a third year student at Rongo University College, pursuing Bed arts {Eng. /Lit} option, currently the editor-in-chief of the school.

 Tsamparada daily: Tell us more about yourself, your background and where you come from?

Wangare: Am this ever smiling lady, some of my friend wonder whether I ever frown…Nyandarua county is my home place, from a typical background, similar to most of the students in campus.

 Tsamparada daily: In campus politics, your relationship with the Central Association has been in the limelight, most especially as regards to your nomination, tell us more.

Wangare; Am the former secretary of the Central students association having been one of the people who came up with group. However my nomination was not done with regards to my position in the CCA.Had it been so the vetted students would have been from the CCA only.

Tsamparada daily: How has your work been as Editor-In-Chief?

Wangare; It has not been that easy. The post is very involving and frankly I have learnt a lot since I got the post, especially during the publication of the magazine. Am never the mediocre character I was then.

 Tsamparada daily: What are some of the challenges faced during the publication of the Magazine?

Wangare; Lack of capital was the core challenge but thanks God we thrived through it. Thank to my very committed editorial team who worked day and night to see the magazine a success.

 Tsamparada daily: Any marketing strategy in Mind for the Magazine?

Wangare; Apart from selling our magazine to the campus fraternity, we are also marketing it online to ensure that it reaches other interested persons out there.

Tsamparada daily: What are your future plans for the magazine, frequency of publication?

Wangare; I would love to see us publish the magazine more frequently though that will depend much on the ‘heads’ view of the same.

 Tsamparada daily: What should we expect in the Magazine?

Wangare; Our magazines main aim is innovation and creativity among the students, and to empower students in social, economic and political life; the magazine is all rounded. Expect the best from it

 Tsamparada daily: As per the allegations laid before you when you emerged the winner, nominated to the position of Editor-In-Chief, what’s your say on them?

Wangare; Much was said but neither did it hinder me from moving on nor affect my social life. I knew I was clean.In fact that hardened me enough and it made me recognize my true friends.

Tsamparada daily: When you exit the campus union, what plans do you have, any businesses?

Wangare; My education comes first. The rest will follow.

                            

Tsamparada daily: Rate the performance of the Union during this Academic year.

Wangare;  Our union is the best. Unity and teamwork is their core values and through this they have made significant changes. Bravo to them!

THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF :MARY WANGARE EXPOSED

When nominations were held for the position of Editor-In-Chief, several people submitted their papers but only one MARY WANGARE made it. Regardless of the issues that surrounded her nomination, she has remained strong and defied odds, finally she’s made it with the publication of GOLDCAMP Magazine.

We sought to dig deeper to know who Mary Wangare is.

                                                     

https://www.facebook.com/kamary.gypsy

Tsamparada daily: Who is Mary Wangare?

Wangare: Mary is a young lady, a third year student at Rongo University College, pursuing Bed arts {Eng. /Lit} option, currently the editor-in-chief of the school.

 Tsamparada daily: Tell us more about yourself, your background and where you come from?

Wangare: Am this ever smiling lady, some of my friend wonder whether I ever frown…Nyandarua county is my home place, from a typical background, similar to most of the students in campus.

 Tsamparada daily: In campus politics, your relationship with the Central Association has been in the limelight, most especially as regards to your nomination, tell us more.

Wangare; Am the former secretary of the Central students association having been one of the people who came up with group. However my nomination was not done with regards to my position in the CCA.Had it been so the vetted students would have been from the CCA only.

Tsamparada daily: How has your work been as Editor-In-Chief?

Wangare; It has not been that easy. The post is very involving and frankly I have learnt a lot since I got the post, especially during the publication of the magazine. Am never the mediocre character I was then.

 Tsamparada daily: What are some of the challenges faced during the publication of the Magazine?

Wangare; Lack of capital was the core challenge but thanks God we thrived through it. Thank to my very committed editorial team who worked day and night to see the magazine a success.

 Tsamparada daily: Any marketing strategy in Mind for the Magazine?

Wangare; Apart from selling our magazine to the campus fraternity, we are also marketing it online to ensure that it reaches other interested persons out there.

Tsamparada daily: What are your future plans for the magazine, frequency of publication?

Wangare; I would love to see us publish the magazine more frequently though that will depend much on the ‘heads’ view of the same.

 Tsamparada daily: What should we expect in the Magazine?

Wangare; Our magazines main aim is innovation and creativity among the students, and to empower students in social, economic and political life; the magazine is all rounded. Expect the best from it

 Tsamparada daily: As per the allegations laid before you when you emerged the winner, nominated to the position of Editor-In-Chief, what’s your say on them?

Wangare; Much was said but neither did it hinder me from moving on nor affect my social life. I knew I was clean.In fact that hardened me enough and it made me recognize my true friends.

Tsamparada daily: When you exit the campus union, what plans do you have, any businesses?

Wangare; My education comes first. The rest will follow.

                            

Tsamparada daily: Rate the performance of the Union during this Academic year.

Wangare;  Our union is the best. Unity and teamwork is their core values and through this they have made significant changes. Bravo to them!

KENYAN UNIVERSITIES': ARE THEY CENTRES OF ETHNIC EXCELLENCE BUSY CHURNING REVOLUTIONISTS IN WAITING?

It has always proved tricky writing about the “big wings”, it has always been more “expensive” writing about the untouchables in our society, and it has always been more disastrous writing about the extended academic court-K.U but could we be in an era of academic ethnicity sandwiched with politics unknowingly? We seek to dig deeper.

Long hours of protests that were witnessed in Kenyatta University during the campaigns for KUSO leadership highlighted increasing cases of students protest over what they term as administration interference in student’s elections. Statistical data from the varsity shows that for the past five years, the students that have been suspended and expelled in the university have been affiliated to a given political outfit nationaly.Despite issues being raised over the integrity of the said varsity VC-Prof. Mugenda, she is fiercely feared in newsrooms where editors fear that publication or airing of any story that is deemed negative will lead to withdrawal of advertisements’. The university is among the biggest advertisers in Kenya. Prof .Mugenda is also a board member at the Nation Media Group where editors have been briefed to sing her praises over and over while keeping a blind eye on accusations over her management style and relatively skewed promotions. The disqualification of Sammy Owino Babu for the position of KUSO presidency was traumatic, unexpected and uncalled for just like the baseless accusations that were thrown on his way. The cities leading blog noted “In the past seven years, university officials who oversee the elections have disqualified students who are deemed to be against the University management from vying. In reality, sadly, these students belong to a specific community, or, group of communities in western Kenya………….students leaders have interpreted the disqualification as “ rigging before voting” since such action have given advantage to weaker aspirants who are “friendly” to the administration in winning the seats.”

The current mass flow of strikes within our universities is wanting and must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. But how will we act fast and swiftly to control it? Why condemn it when in real sense it’s the administrations of such universities that call for it? When the administration resorts to use of force, suppression, oppression of students and a clear cut of all the channels of communication and the uncalled for interference in the students union politics. As tertiary centers of academic excellence and research, dialogue should be key and the administrations should opt for a neutral ground not taking any political side.

Positive criticism is good for the society, it helps in growth and self evaluation, time is ripe the university managements appreciated this. At the heart of this were the double suspension of one Cyprian Nyakundi from Meru University and his summary Expulsion thereafter in what the university termed as soiling the reputation of the university in social media. Mind you, this was a young institution then which was busy grappling with its own share of challenges, so when one cnyakundi took to his blog to raise the issues like poor road access, scrambling for food in the mess, insufficient lecture chairs, instead of the university acting, they “paid him in kind-expulsion”

Benmark Nganga, Nathan Mutugi and Denis Muchiri that is the president, the vice and the secretary General of the disbanded Technical University were last week expelled from the Mombasa based university. The leaders were accused for inciting fellow students, rallying them to sabotage classes and participation on illegal demonstration. The three leaders drawned from the larger Mount Kenya region faced the Knife, the question being asked now is could Technical University of Mombasa be representing the reality on the ground that Universities are slowly but surely turning to be tribalism throttleholds? One Mr.Juma Paul noted, “this typically is a lack of understanding between the administration and what it means having a students organization.TUMSO being the first independent organization in TUM, the VC, Prof Mwatela absolutely ignored the significance of dialogue with the students organization, Nevertheless, he didn’t really came out quite frankly to address the issues before deciding to expel the student leaders! The ways he used are quite unclear, undetermined and, to some extent, divide-and-rule! Now the fate of various students is on his reign and to this moment I have not seen any serious progress towards reaching the common agreement. Will the institution run without student leaders?”

The students had earlier on demonstrated over the delay in HELB and to this fateful one, they were for the registration of their engineering courses with the EBK.

In a similar incident last year at Kimathi University, Kay Qube, a blogger with the freemytongue was also suspended for articulating his ideas, thoughts and experiences over the social media following the death of one of their own student, Mr. Morris who died in unclear circumstances within the university. The death of Morris saw the university witness the worst demonstrations of its time due to the casual way they said late student was handled.

This further sends me to Egerton University, the Nakuru-Njoro based institution has also had a share of its unexplained, shallow minded, open administrative dictatorship and ethno-related expulsion and suspensions. Could something be going wrong with the top management of these universities? In last year, during Egertons’ most trying moments, Mr. Ooko victor of Ookoscope blog was suspended from the University for organizing and participating in illegal demonstration. The then, Secretary General to the Union was forced to pack his belongings and go back home-to Kitengela. The accumulated amount that was charged on him as accrued damage of properties was wanting, ksh 245,895 upon his return.

Are these universities churning revolutionists in waiting? Does it mean dissenting views are not accepted in our centers of academic excellence? In an open mind, these institutions have grown to CENTRES OF ETHNIC EXELLENCE!!

KENYAN UNIVERSITIES': ARE THEY CENTRES OF ETHNIC EXCELLENCE BUSY CHURNING REVOLUTIONISTS IN WAITING?

It has always proved tricky writing about the “big wings”, it has always been more “expensive” writing about the untouchables in our society, and it has always been more disastrous writing about the extended academic court-K.U but could we be in an era of academic ethnicity sandwiched with politics unknowingly? We seek to dig deeper.

Long hours of protests that were witnessed in Kenyatta University during the campaigns for KUSO leadership highlighted increasing cases of students protest over what they term as administration interference in student’s elections. Statistical data from the varsity shows that for the past five years, the students that have been suspended and expelled in the university have been affiliated to a given political outfit nationaly.Despite issues being raised over the integrity of the said varsity VC-Prof. Mugenda, she is fiercely feared in newsrooms where editors fear that publication or airing of any story that is deemed negative will lead to withdrawal of advertisements’. The university is among the biggest advertisers in Kenya. Prof .Mugenda is also a board member at the Nation Media Group where editors have been briefed to sing her praises over and over while keeping a blind eye on accusations over her management style and relatively skewed promotions. The disqualification of Sammy Owino Babu for the position of KUSO presidency was traumatic, unexpected and uncalled for just like the baseless accusations that were thrown on his way. The cities leading blog noted “In the past seven years, university officials who oversee the elections have disqualified students who are deemed to be against the University management from vying. In reality, sadly, these students belong to a specific community, or, group of communities in western Kenya………….students leaders have interpreted the disqualification as “ rigging before voting” since such action have given advantage to weaker aspirants who are “friendly” to the administration in winning the seats.”

The current mass flow of strikes within our universities is wanting and must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. But how will we act fast and swiftly to control it? Why condemn it when in real sense it’s the administrations of such universities that call for it? When the administration resorts to use of force, suppression, oppression of students and a clear cut of all the channels of communication and the uncalled for interference in the students union politics. As tertiary centers of academic excellence and research, dialogue should be key and the administrations should opt for a neutral ground not taking any political side.

Positive criticism is good for the society, it helps in growth and self evaluation, time is ripe the university managements appreciated this. At the heart of this were the double suspension of one Cyprian Nyakundi from Meru University and his summary Expulsion thereafter in what the university termed as soiling the reputation of the university in social media. Mind you, this was a young institution then which was busy grappling with its own share of challenges, so when one cnyakundi took to his blog to raise the issues like poor road access, scrambling for food in the mess, insufficient lecture chairs, instead of the university acting, they “paid him in kind-expulsion”

Benmark Nganga, Nathan Mutugi and Denis Muchiri that is the president, the vice and the secretary General of the disbanded Technical University were last week expelled from the Mombasa based university. The leaders were accused for inciting fellow students, rallying them to sabotage classes and participation on illegal demonstration. The three leaders drawned from the larger Mount Kenya region faced the Knife, the question being asked now is could Technical University of Mombasa be representing the reality on the ground that Universities are slowly but surely turning to be tribalism throttleholds? One Mr.Juma Paul noted, “this typically is a lack of understanding between the administration and what it means having a students organization.TUMSO being the first independent organization in TUM, the VC, Prof Mwatela absolutely ignored the significance of dialogue with the students organization, Nevertheless, he didn’t really came out quite frankly to address the issues before deciding to expel the student leaders! The ways he used are quite unclear, undetermined and, to some extent, divide-and-rule! Now the fate of various students is on his reign and to this moment I have not seen any serious progress towards reaching the common agreement. Will the institution run without student leaders?”

The students had earlier on demonstrated over the delay in HELB and to this fateful one, they were for the registration of their engineering courses with the EBK.

In a similar incident last year at Kimathi University, Kay Qube, a blogger with the freemytongue was also suspended for articulating his ideas, thoughts and experiences over the social media following the death of one of their own student, Mr. Morris who died in unclear circumstances within the university. The death of Morris saw the university witness the worst demonstrations of its time due to the casual way they said late student was handled.

This further sends me to Egerton University, the Nakuru-Njoro based institution has also had a share of its unexplained, shallow minded, open administrative dictatorship and ethno-related expulsion and suspensions. Could something be going wrong with the top management of these universities? In last year, during Egertons’ most trying moments, Mr. Ooko victor of Ookoscope blog was suspended from the University for organizing and participating in illegal demonstration. The then, Secretary General to the Union was forced to pack his belongings and go back home-to Kitengela. The accumulated amount that was charged on him as accrued damage of properties was wanting, ksh 245,895 upon his return.

Are these universities churning revolutionists in waiting? Does it mean dissenting views are not accepted in our centers of academic excellence? In an open mind, these institutions have grown to CENTRES OF ETHNIC EXELLENCE!!

DIGITIZING RUC: AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME!!!

According to most theories of technological change, old technologies tend to disappear when newer ones arrive. If done right, IT has the potential to completely transform business and organization by flattering hierarchies, shrinking supply chains and speeding communication. Why, then, do so many companies, organizations and institutions get it wrong?

RUC is tremendously growing and firstly expanding, the current structure is way much better than what was there two years back. However, in my honest view, the little problems bedeviling RUC are technological. There is an urgent need for the establishment of a student portal - an individualized web system that allows one to view applications on a single web page. It provides direct access to ones personalized information. Students’ portal is the gateway to all the RUC students’ details including enrolment, results and examination details.

RUC can only realize work efficiency, student’s convenience and a cut off on staff wage bill/ salaries if and only if it fully embraces technology. The university mission,”…..to be a world class technology driven university……” will be of no use if it cannot digitize its operations and offer its students real time services.

How will we motivate our computer scientists and informatics students to be innovative if we ourselves are not? RUC has got that peaceful academic environment, a cool serene environment, with whistling winds off Kisii highlands that refreshes the mind and provides that extra cooling effect and energy to continue working even if one seems tired. All students dream to be job creators, and if not, get employed at the end of it all. Let’s start the ground breaking ceremony, let’s lay the foundation strong, it starts with us, we need to churn out competitive workforce, computer experts. It’s the little things like IT developments, digitization that will motivate them and get them out of the comfort zone to start working and coding endlessly, things real and imaginary.

Back to my school of thought, a student’s portal which allows students to view their course applications, apply for scholarships, apply to graduate, access blackboard(WebCT)-( blackboard learning system is an online proprietary virtual learning environment system that is licensed to colleges and other institutions and used in many campuses for e-learning. Instructors can add such tools as discussions boards, mail system and live chat along with content including documents and web pages-web courses.), access lecture recordings, view results and other important tools and information will not only be ideal and a milestone in realization of our digital school (ODEL) but also, it will be an investment whose gains will have major academic step ups and seal loopholes (decried favoritism, laxity and complacency) in the offices concerned.

In a brief understanding of our social and academic problems, access to communication is a disease most students suffer sandwiched by limited academic materials and publications. In a bid to address this, JSTOR was born, however what worries me is that a load of shite has been talked about digitization (the e-library (JSTOR)) as being the new Gutenberg but the fact is that Gutenberg led to books being put in shelves, and digitization is taking books off the shelves.

If you start taking books off shelves then you are only going to find what you are looking for, which does not help those who do not know what they are looking for. For effective use, students still need loads of information as pertains to JSTOR.

Though one could easily argue that the accidental discovery of what you dint know you were looking for is still imminently possible in a digitized, hyperlinked environment, the likelihood will be minimal with proper guidance.

It is within our capacity to digitize our collections, digitize our library and our cultural heritage information, but I pose to ask, is the digitization of analog products a goldmine?

Webometric rankings are based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of web contents (number of web pages and files and the visibility and impact of these publications according to the number of external in links (site citations) they received.)How will we improve our rank? Nobody smiles at our decimal performance yearly. The aim of the ranking is not to infrastructuraly or academically mock RUC fraternity but to improve the presence of the academic and research institutions like ours on the web and promote the open access publication of scientific results.

As a university of our choice, we long to see improved service delivery, real-time information dissemination and better academic research. I think this is not a preserve for the future posterity; it is more of a real student basic need than imagine secondary academic want. The internet is the future for this generation, from digital schools, e-shopping to e-payments thus it is my belief that digitization is the new face that RUC should wear, it should not only be a song by the goldmine but a structure good when real than imagined. It is the only prescribed cure to long queue at the finance office, crowding at the departmentals and a new lease of life for academic score cards-the transcripts and the only solution to irregular fee balances. We can automate our student ledgers and issue digital receipts, come on, we are technology driven.

As I conclude, I would like to share similar sentiments with Colin Powell, “my own experience is to use the tools that are out there, use the digital world. But never lose sight of the need to reach out and talk to other people who don’t share your view. Listen to them and see if you can find a way to compromise.”