The Directorate of Resource Mobilization and Strategic Initiatives, under the leadership of Prof. Julius Ochuodho, hosted the Resource Mobilization retreat to set the pace towards creatively and innovatively seeking new approaches to mobilize resources from the internal and external opportunities available within the University.

Opening the retreat, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot asked the participants to ensure that the resource mobilization strategies being formulated consider the ever-changing and evolving financial environment surrounding the University operations. He reiterated the need for all members of the University to get involved in Resource Mobilization as this responsibility should not be handled by the ReMSI Directorate only but everyone should contribute towards sourcing funds internally and externally through their various networks. The Directorate was tasked with sensitizing and building capacity amongst colleagues through mentorship and coaching programs. Inclusively, the V.C. noted that cost-cutting should be treated as a measure used towards becoming self-sustaining. However, this should be well thought out and colleagues should have a change in mindset and create opportunities for sustainability. All ideas that emanated from the workshop will be put into action to take UoE to the next level in the transformation and repositioning journey.

The Ag. DVC (ASA), Prof. Beatrice Were, urged the participants to use their experiences and clarify the way forward in terms of increasing the resource base of the University to generate additional resources. The Schools, she said, should form partnerships and collaborations and find opportunities to respond to grants, bids and scholarship offers thus taking the initiative and being more involved in resource mobilization. 

The retreat was closed by Prof. Ng’etich, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (AF) on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor. He told the participants to look at the processes that had been developed and using the timelines, start assessing themselves and look ahead to ensure the outcomes are delivered for the University to transform and reposition. He advised that the greatest resource mobilization would be in the reduction of wastage around the University which would reduce costs incurred tremendously.

The retreat session aimed at harnessing the collective expertise of the participants leading to the formulation of various resource mobilization strategies, that, when utilized effectively will ensure the University will generate additional resources.