JKUAT Tech Expo
The JKUAT Tech Expo is an annual exposition open to student exhibitors from all institutions of higher learning. The event gives students a chance to further their innovation by giving them a platform to showcase their projects to industries and other stakeholders for furtherance of solutions that address global challenges.
History
The exposition took shape out of an idea borne by a group of visionary students in 2009, then members of the JKUAT Linux Users Group (JLUG). The idea was conceived in 2009, but it would be another year before the event came to fruition. For a cumulative period of nine months in 2010, a committee headed by Calvin Kebati made concerted efforts aimed at shaping the event.
Tech Expo 1.0
The inaugural JKUAT Tech Expo took place at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Main Campus in Juja, Kenya on Wednesday, 13 October 2010. Students exhibited progressive projects that so impressed the university management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Mabel Imbuga, that she set in motion the idea of adding the event to the university calendar. The DVC in charge of Research, Production, and Extension, Prof Esther Kahangi, was instrumental in shaping the inaugural Tech Expo 1.
Committee member |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
Calvin Kebati |
Chairman |
Mike Muriuki |
General Secretariat |
James Njogu |
MC |
Willys Wendoh |
Media |
Sam Muriuki |
Marketing |
Guests
The chief guest was the JKUAT Vice Chancelloer, Prof Mabel Imbuga. Among other guests present were Kaburo Kobia of the Kenya ICT board, Eng. Benson Kariuki the University-Industry Liaison Officer, and Dr. Joseph Wafula the University ICT Director.
Organising Committee
The inaugural Committee consisted of Calvin Kebati, Wendoh Willys in charge of the media team, Sam Muriuki at the helm of the marketing team, and Mike Muriuki who was tasked with the general secretariat.
Projects
Most of the projects highlighted Software Engineering and Embedded Systems 2. The winning project was a community web GIS application dubbed Online and SMS Fuel Price Monitoring System, being the brainchild of Mr Eric Omwando Opiyo. The Vice Chancellor assured the fifteen student exhibitors of the security of their intellectual property rights since the university has a standing IP policy. The dominance of the JKUAT Endeavour graduates at the event was palpable. The Endeavour program is an initiative that gives a platform for sharing of knowledge, experiences, and skills in institutions of higher learning through partnerships in industry. It offers training on ICT with a bias to problem solving, independent research, and entrepreneurship.
Tech Expo 2.0
The second EDition of the JKUAT Tech Expo took place exactly one year after the first edition, on 13 October 2011, at the JKUAT Main Campus in Juja, Kenya. The event committee focussed on expanding the categories 3. This saw the inclusion of projects under the categories of Agriculture, Engineering & Architecture, Mass Communication, and Software Engineering & Embedded Systems 4. The event was centred on viable and easily Scalable projects that would be relevant even in rural areas.
Committee member |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
Calvin Kebati |
Chairman |
Andrew Kyalo |
General Secretariat |
James Njogu |
MC |
Carol Maina |
Media |
Collins Omwenga |
Marketing |
Peterson Kombo |
Finance |
Guests
The Guest of Honour was Information and Communication Permanent Secretary, Dr Bitange Ndemo, who emphasised the importance of ICT in developing sustainable solutions to current and future challenges.
Projects
Sixty-six teams submitted their projects for inclusion in the evnt, of which 23 made subject to the vetting criteria applied by the committee. One of the students that showcased at the event.
Tech Expo 3.0
The third installment of the JKUAT Tech Expo 5, themed Harnessing Technology, and Innovations to Attain Industrialization, Sustainable Economic Growth, and Food Security, took place on 1 and 2 November 2012.
Committee member |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
Calvin Kebati |
Chairman |
Andrew Kyalo |
General Secretariat |
James Njogu |
MC |
Margaret Wahome |
Logistics |
Dan Gaiku |
Finance |
Guests
The chief guest was the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Roads, now Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure, Engineer Michael S M Kamau, who officially opened the event. Participants were drawn from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi, Egerton University, Kenyatta University, Dedan Kimathi University, Mombasa Polytechnic University College, Multimedia University of Kenya, Technical University of Kenya, and Meru University College.
Projects
Of The Two hundred projects submitted to the committee for evaluation, fifty sailed through to the exhibition stage. This translated to ten projects for each of the categories picked by the committee 6. To submit projects, students had to register online and submit their proposals. A panel of judges drawn from industry and the university teaching staff was at hand to assess the projects. Mr Imani Manyara, attracted world attention after being recruited by Twitter as a Senior Software Engineer.
Categories
The categories expanded to five in which Software Design covered web based systems, desktop applications, mobile applications, and games. Embedded systems category covered micro-controller element based systems and integrated circuit technology. Engineering and Architecture consisted of projects concerned with the built environment, material designs, and machines. Agriculture catered for plant health, animal health, and food security. Multimedia was a category that featured projects in motion pictures, photography, radio, and allied projects
Tech Expo 4.0
The fourth instalment of the JKUAT Tech Expo 7 was held on 31 October and 1 November 2013 at JKUAT Main Campus in Juja, Kenya.
Committee member |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
Calvin Kebati |
Chairman |
Dan Gaiku |
Finance |
Lynn Akinyi |
Media |
Collins Omwenga |
Marketing |
Margaret Wahome |
Logistics |
Guest
The Guest of Honour was the Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed represented by the Director of Industrial Information & Research Amb. Dr. Joseph Kiplagat.
Projects
The event featured eighty projects that spanned four categories in Software design, Embedded Systems, Agriculture, and Engineering.
Tech EXPO 5.0
The fifth instalment of the JKUAT Tech Expo, slated for 6 and 7 November 2014 features a few changes. In divergence from the last four Expos, the JKUAT Tech Expo 5.0 will feature revised submission criteria and eleven categories. The committee aims at selecting 30 projects from the ones submitted for consideration. The projects will be showcased as judges go around the stations to deliberate on ten projects that shall be enlisted for the second day presentation to the panel. Of these, the judges will select an overall winner of the Tech Expo.
Committee member |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
Calvin Kebati |
Chairman |
Natalie Mutunga |
Narketing |
Kevin Gitau |
Media |
Margaret Wahome |
Logistics |
Michael Waititu |
Finance |
Sarah Wanjohi |
Event Management |
James Kariuki |
Digital Content |
Changes
To enhance quality and ease of incubation, the Tech Expo Organising Committee saw it fit to institute a few changes in the project submission requirements. The previous practice has seen teams prepare projects based on the technical operation of their solutions. However, this has led to a situation where students concentrate on developing the solution without considering the business perspective in terms of sustainability and marketability. To enhance this, the submitted projects must be Henceforth followed up with a business model to facilitate ease of incubation and funding by requisite stakeholders.
Categories
The eleven categories comprise of Education, Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Food Security, Water Management, Security, Waste Management, Financial Inclusion, Social/Communication, and Transport. Five additional categories are free for all and unbounded by the theme of the Tech Expo. The firms in attendance shall view them, as well as other interested parties. These categories comprise Cloud Technologies, Mobile Apps: Android & Windows, Business Plans, Art & Design, and Algorithms & Mathematical Models.
References
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