Machakos University Champions Sustainable Development through UNESCO Cloud Computing Chair and EPIP Initiative

In a significant recognition of its innovative approach to technology and education, Machakos University (MksU) was awarded the prestigious UNESCO Chair on Cloud Computing for Sustainable Development in January 2023. This four-year initiative under the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme positions the university at the forefront of using cloud technology to address critical global challenges.

The Chair promotes an integrated system of research, training, and information dissemination, fostering collaboration among high-level researchers internationally. Its work is strategically focused on five key pillars of sustainable development:

1. Cloud Computing for Health & Well-being: The research focuses on providing comprehensive online health information services, improving healthcare delivery for patients and professionals, and enabling collaboration between different health structures. Key applications include cloud analytics on healthcare data, secure data storage and access, and the strategic integration of Health Information Services (HIS) to create a more efficient and informed health sector.

2. Cloud Computing for Agriculture & Food Security: The initiative leverages cloud platforms to address challenges in agriculture, promoting food security and sustainable practices through data-driven insights.

3. Cloud Computing for Education & Training: This pillar aims to develop new, cloud-powered approaches to learning, increasing the quality and accessibility of education. This mission is directly supported by the University’s parallel engineering initiative, the Engineering Practice Innovation Project (EPIP) Centre.

4. Cloud Computing for Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability: Research will be directed towards using cloud analytics and data storage to monitor environmental changes and develop strategies for sustainability.

5. Cloud Computing for Space Science & Surveillance: The chair will explore the application of cloud computing in managing and analyzing data from space science and earth surveillance projects.

Bridging Theory and Practice: The EPIP Centre

Complementing the theoretical research of the UNESCO Chair is the University’s hands-on EPIP Centre, which supports Kenya’s Competence-Based Education (CBE) framework. The centre bridges the gap between education and industry by integrating theory with engineering practice. Students engage in hands-on projects using equipment like robotic arms, escalator models, and Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) systems, deepening their understanding of automation, control systems, and embedded technologies.

The integration of EPIP with industry certification courses provides a holistic learning model that combines academic excellence with technical expertise, developing multidimensional talent.

Recognition and Expansion

The success of this integrated approach was underscored in December 2024 during a comprehensive evaluation event, which celebrated key milestones including:

• The donation of professional equipment e.g., the servers and robotic arms to the Luban Workshop 
• The unveiling of the Kenya EPIP Teaching Research and Application Promotion Demonstration Centre
• The establishment of a Digital Talent Training Centre.
• The signing of a new agreement to expand the EPIP model across all University departments, aligning new programs directly with Kenya’s national occupational demand framework.

Together, the UNESCO Chair on Cloud Computing for Sustainable Development and the EPIP Centre embody Machakos University’s commitment to driving sustainable development through innovative technology, transformative research, and practical, industry-ready education.

The UNESCO Chair would provide the prestigious international framework and recognition to catalyze this initiative, attracting further investment, talent, and collaborative opportunities to drive sustainable development through cloud computing innovation in the region.