Intake: Continuous (all year round)

Philosophy 

To promote globally competitive quality education and training in peaceful applications of nuclear science techniques and associated technologies. The program is designed to enhance critical reasoning, problem-solving, and in-depth analysis through independent research. It is an important aspect of capacity building of a knowledgeable resource base for sustainable development in line with the aspirations of Kenyans as pronounced in the short- and long-term strategic plans of the country and the University of Nairobi.  

Rationale 

Peaceful use of nuclear science transcends across all economic and socioeconomic activities, especially in energy, environment, food and agriculture, health, industry and water. It also includes applications in security and safety. The science is an important aspect in sustainable development considering the pioneer applications of X-rays were radiography and crystallography in 1920s and the methods delivered the tangible medical diagnostics and the elemental table, respectively, and they continue to pray a major role in medical services, material science research, micro and macro-nutrients investigation in agriculture and infrastructure among many other services. The wide range of applications are well established in the North where they have developed a strong human resource base and provided high investments in infrastructure. In Africa, although the techniques were appreciated since the late 1950s, the human resource base remains weak in the midst of the high demand by the governments and private sector. However, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been assisting its member states directly in Country Specific Projects and through African Regional Co-operative Agreement (AFRA) for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology which was inaugurated in 1990 and has a membership of 45 African Member States of IAEA. The presented reviewed programme is therefore important to Kenya as well as the region.

Kenya Government realised the necessity and importance of nuclear Science applications reasonably early and it became a member of AFRA at its inception in 1990. It established organizations to promote the peaceful use of ionizing radiation and the protection of humans from harm. The organizations are the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) under the Ministry of Health, and a coordination office of Nuclear applications related programs, and IAEA liaison in the then National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), currently National Commission of Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)) under the Ministry of Education. More than 10 years ago the government realized energy was a key enabler of Vision2030 implementation and immediately established a Nuclear Electricity Committee under the Ministry of Energy. The Committee has since transformed to the current Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) with a mandate of IAEA National Liaison Office, while AFRA coordinating mandate remains in NACOSTI. In all these organisations human resource in nuclear science applications is identified as a major challenge in the country and the issue occupies space in their stakeholder’s meetings and private discussions between the heads of the organisations and the director, INST. As late as last year, the challenge was a serious discussion in a preparation meeting to guide conference participation of Kenya delegates to 63rd IAEA General Conference of the Member States.  The meeting was chaired by the ambassador at the Kenya Embassy in Vienna, Austria, and the attending delegates were from Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenyatta University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, NACOSTI, National Assembly, National Research Fund, NuPEA, Pwani University, and RPB.  In all the forums of key stakeholders in nuclear science education, that INST has had an opportunity to be present, the need for Kenya to have a strong knowledgeable human resource base to support sustainable development was always highly articulated. This was also well pronounced in the various stakeholder meetings on INST planned and reviewed programmes. The meetings also highlighted the critical importance of nuclear science applications in the implementation of Kenya’s long-term Strategic Plan (Vision2030) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). 

Goal 

The goal of this programme is to produce independent thinkers and highly skilled human reason to support sustainable higher education and to promote Kenyan and regional manpower able to compete in the competitive local and global job market. 

Mode of Delivery 

The programme is by thesis produced from independent research and supported by a minimum of two papers in a peer-reviewed journal. 

Exam Regulations:

The programme is by thesis produced from independent research and supported by a minimum of two papers in a peer-reviewed journal.