A delegation from Ghent University led by the Rector, Prof. Rik Van de Walle paid a courtesy call to the Ag. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Wilson Ng’etich to discuss and explore areas of collaboration and partnership with University of Eldoret. The team comprised of:

1. Prof. Rik Van de Walle - Rector UGhent,
2. Prof. Frank Witlox: Research Explorer - Read profile at ugent.be,
3. Prof. Geert Haesaert - Read profile at ugent.be,
4. Prof. Amaury Frankl; Research Explorer - Read profile at ugent.be,
5. Prof. Inge Brinkman; Research Explorer - Read profile at ugent.be,
6. Dr. Annelies Verdoolaege - Read profile at ugent.be and 
7. Mrs. Isabelle De Coen.

Ghent University has a long-standing history with UoE through past and ongoing projects with Prof. Maurice Okoth, Dr. Kennedy Pkania and Dr. Abigael Otinga; the latter two having worked with Prof. Haesaert during their PhD training within the institutional context of the cooperation between KU Leuven, Ghent University and UoE on the AGBIO Project under the VLIR-UOS.

The objectives of the visit to the university were; 

1. The UGhent Rector interest in meeting with the UoE Vice Chancellor to establish areas of mutual interest;
2. Prof. Witlox interest in establishing a link with colleagues within the Geography Department for research, educational or project-based collaborations.
3. Prof. Geert Haesaert, having previously worked with the University of Eldoret within the framework of the VLIR-UOS AGBIO Project with Abigael Nekesa Otinga, then PhD student (Roel Merckx- KUL) and Kennedy Pkania who was his PhD student (alumni UGent). Prof. Haesaert’s met with the heads of various departments (plant sciences, animal sciences, food technology). 

During the visit, the teams held parallel discussion sessions focusing on:

• Agricultural Sciences and related disciplines, 
• Humanities and related disciplines and 
• International educational affairs and outreach initiatives to discuss mutual interests and explore areas of collaboration. 

The discussion sessions prioritized areas of collaboration especially on research activities and detailed;

• Academic exchange visits including short stays of a maximum of three  months for UoE staff and students in Ghent, 
• Guest Speakers/Visiting Professors from Ghent to UoE or vice versa and
• Joint response to proposal calls. 

The Ghent delegation visited the laboratories for Seed Crops and Horticultural Sciences and Soil Science in SAGR to explore ways of improving the working spaces in the laboratories to enhance the teaching and research initiatives of the School.

Present during the visit were the Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (PRE) - Dr. Ben Mwasi, Ag. Director of Industrial Linkages, Partnerships and Collaboration - Dr. Frank Masese, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology - Dr. Nicholas Rop, Director - Prof. Linnet Gohole, Director of Research and Innovation - prof. Lizzy Mwamburi,  Director of Postgraduate Studies - Prof. Samuel Lutta, Head, Department of Educational Foundations - Dr. Jafred Muyaka and the Coordinator of the Outreach Centre - Dr. Heka Kamau and the University of Ghent alumni Dr. Abigael Otinga, Dr. Kennedy Pkania.