Strathmore University and the World Bank Group have signed a new partnership to expand opportunities for students and researchers and strengthen collaboration in innovation, policy, digital transformation, and human capital development.
The Memorandum of Cooperation signed through the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences will provide a framework for student mobility, research and policy engagement, entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge exchange between the university and the global development institution.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, World Bank Group Global Talent Attraction Lead Mabel Udoh said the partnership could help address unequal access to opportunities, despite talent being widespread.
“Talent is indeed universal, but opportunity is not always equally distributed,” said Udoh.
The partnership is also expected to expose students to career opportunities at the World Bank Group, including internships and the Young Professionals Program.
World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa Dr Ndiamé Diop said the institution is keen to identify young talent while also giving students greater exposure to development work.
“We are also self-interested; we want to detect talent for our hiring pipeline,” he said.
However, Diop said the collaboration should go beyond recruitment and help students understand how academic knowledge can be applied to real-world development challenges.
He urged students to seek opportunities to understand how development programs affect communities, businesses and livelihoods.
“Concept moves to reality when you see the impact up close,” he added.
Strathmore University Vice Chancellor Dr Vincent Ogutu challenged students to focus not only on academic qualifications but also on their ability to solve problems.
“The question is not just about your professional qualification, but the problems you can solve using the skills you acquire here,” he said.
Ogutu said the university is increasingly focusing on translating academic excellence into measurable impact, in line with its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.
