DEPARTMENT OF MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRIAL AND TEXTILE ENGINEERING
DESIGN OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
The five-year Bachelor of Engineering degree in Industrial and Textile Engineering is designed to offer sound training in the following core areas of the discipline:
- Yarn Formation Engineering
- Fabric Manufacture Engineering
- Wet Process Engineering
- Textile Science
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Industrial Management
- Industrial Engineering
Mathematics, computer programming, mechanics of machines, electrical engineering and other relevant courses are also offered as compulsory supportive courses in the programme. Concepts from the pure sciences and other disciplines within the School are built into the programme to enable the students have a multi-disciplinary outlook in their training.
In response to the demand of higher education in the country, the School of Engineering has also started the admission of the privately sponsored students. The Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering is soliciting for the support of this program from the Industry where the Industry may sponsor their prospective candidates for this three to five year program depending on the qualification of their employees.
Sunflag Spinning and Weaving Mills, a Textile mill, have sponsored two of their Diploma holders to under this program of which the Department is very grateful for this support. The department is continuously looking forward to such collaborations with the intent of making the degree programme adoptable and seen to solve challenges encountered in these fields.
INCOME GENERATION
The Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, as is applicable to all departments in the University no longer relies wholly on state funds for its activities, it became clear that relying on state funds would mean that the department would be constrained in: -
- Research and extension activities
- Students support (scholarships)
These shortcomings have consequently adversely affected the following groups of persons:-
- The fibre producer (farmer) due to insufficient outreach (extension) activities by the Department.
- The industry and hence the workers due to low consultancy support. Quick response to changing market situation by many industries such as the textile sector and other manufacturing industries.
- The students/parent due to meagre funds availability.
- The government: As a result of the first two the overall impact on taxes and individual incomes reflect negatively on the government performance.
The Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering has therefore embarked on a policy to generate its own income. This is in fact a University wide trend. The following areas have therefore been identified:-
- Manufacturing: - Pilot plants for the manufacture of high technology textile products like non-woven medical textiles.
- Construction of a textile laboratory/workshop with additional facilities for hire for example testing equipment, conference facilities etc.
- Moi University campus is endowed with abundant land. In Kenya there has been a steady decline in the production of wool, especially after the privatisation of the former Agricultural Development Corporation farms. Farmers in the highlands around the University need encouragement towards rearing of Merino sheep. The climatic condition at Timboroa, area is ideal for Merino sheep. Establishment of a research station in this respect will serve the department and the community as follows:-
- Generate income as a result of its extension facilities.
- Boost the production of wool and wool products in the country.
The Department is therefore seeking for support from various lending agencies in this endeavour as follows:-
- Funds to put up the said wool, research centre facilities.
- Equipment or instruments to be used in the wool research station.Further information on these may be supplied as required.
COLLABORATION PROGRAMMES
The department is currently seeking collaboration with similar departments in other Universities/Institutions of higher learning. Institutions that have replied favourably include:
Overseas
- University of New South Wales – Australia
- University of Dresden – Germany
- University of Stuttgart – Germany
- Hong Kong Polytechnic – China
- ENSITM – France
- Ghent University – Belgium
- Anna University – India
- Philadelphia College of Textile – USA
Local
- Kenya Textile Training Institute
- Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute
- Kenya Association of manufacturers
- Kenya Bureau of Standards
- Local Textile Industries