The Department of Civil & Construction Engineering, University of Nairobi, continues to expand its global academic partnerships following a courtesy visit by Prof. Thomas Mbuya Ochuku and Eng. Muthomi Munyua to leading French institutions, including Chimie ParisTech and CentraleSupélec.

The visit provided a platform for in-depth discussions on potential areas of collaboration in research, training, and academic exchange, particularly in the field of materials engineering and infrastructure durability.

Focus Areas of Collaboration

Discussions centred on advancing joint research in corrosion science and materials performance, with emphasis on:

• Corrosion of galvanised steel and atmospheric corrosion
• Corrosion behaviour in soil environments
• Mechanical and failure mechanisms of materials under loading
• Computational modelling and validation techniques
• Chemical characterisation of corrosion products

The team also explored advanced laboratory techniques, including Raman microscopy, infrared analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for material characterisation.

Research and Training Opportunities

A key outcome of the discussions was the identification of structured research and training pathways, including:

• Participation in summer school programmes involving international institutions
• Joint supervision and collaborative research proposals
• Training in advanced laboratory methods such as climatic chamber testing and microscopy
• Opportunities for postgraduate research development and academic writing

The collaboration is expected to follow a phased approach, including proposal development, bibliographic studies, laboratory training, and eventual publication of research outputs.

Strategic Research Themes

The discussions also highlighted emerging research themes relevant to both institutions, including:

• Biobased and sustainable materials
• Aggressiveness of soils in infrastructure applications
• Material performance under fatigue and environmental loading
• Development of novel materials in chloride- and sulphate-rich environments

Additionally, there were discussions on aligning with international funding frameworks such as the EU-Africa Initiative and engaging with the European Research Council to support collaborative research efforts.

Strengthening Institutional Linkages

The visit also involved engagement with Prof. Polina Volovitch, a key collaborator in corrosion science, with plans to formalise communication, exchange programmes, and joint research activities.

Further discussions addressed logistics for collaboration, including:

• Student mobility and accommodation arrangements
• Transportation of research samples
• Access to laboratory infrastructure
• Formalisation of institutional agreements

Looking Ahead

The courtesy visit marks an important step towards establishing a long-term partnership between the University of Nairobi and leading French institutions. The collaboration is expected to result in joint publications, postgraduate training, and enhanced research capacity in materials engineering.

Visit Delegation

Prof. Thomas MBUYA, Polina VOLOVITCH, and Eng. Muthomi MUNYUA. 

The Department remains committed to strengthening international collaborations that advance research excellence, capacity building, and global engagement in civil and materials engineering.