CUEA/ GABA: Catholic Education Should Stimulate Holistic Human Development, Highlight at Writers Conference
Very Rev. Prof. Stephen Mbugua
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At a recent international writer’s conference that brought together African scholars with diverse knowledge and skills at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Gaba Campus in Eldoret, Kenya, Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Ngari Mbugua in his key note address emphasized that education in universities should promote human growth and development.
“Knowledge and skills shared by scholars in this conference from their respective areas of research should contribute not just to literacy but to the human growth and development through innovation, leadership and resource mobilization,” Rev. Prof. Mbugua the Vice Chancellor of CUEA said as he emphasized on the role of education in universities during the opening session of the 12th international writers conference at CUEA Gaba Campus.
“Developed countries continue to capitalize on learning and research in order to have a cutting edge trajectory in technology, financial and social growth. Therefore, a writers’ conference should be informative and stimulating to the growth and development of the people and nations,” the VC highlighted stressing that, “Without this, the learning remains alien to its objectives.”
According to the keynote address speaker, to realize increased transformation, development needs to continue in four critical levels, “Economic development, social development, human development and environmental development.”
He explained that economic development requires, “rapid and sustained poverty reduction which is inclusive growth allowing people from different groups and sectors to contribute to and benefit from economic growth.”
Speaking to the theme of the annual international writers’ conference, “Catholic University as a catalyst for the Transformation of Africa,” the Kenyan cleric underscored that Catholic Universities must go beyond being faith-based and value-driven to “become development-oriented Universities.”
Credit: AMECEA online
A developmental University, Fr. Mbugua said, “Should be an institution that in all its aspects is singularly animated and concerned with the solution of the concrete problems of societal development hence become demonstrably relevant for and totally committed to national development.”
For a Catholic University to be a transformation for Africa, “it must be of Africa and for Africa by being relevant to its culture and its social economic needs,” Fr. Mbugua said on Tuesday, September 28, while addressing dozens of scholars adding that “the University must have respect for learning and pursuit for truth and advancement of pure knowledge.”
Citing CUEA as a Catholic University instilling ethical values to scholars so they can be catalysts for integral human development the VC said, “CUEA’s statement outlines “We believe that Faith informs truth.”
“Our University is dedicated to the research and dissemination of truth. Our lifelong learning programs form and inspire scholars to be ethical leaders through Judeo-Christian-Africa and other inter-cultural values,” he said and continued, “By embedding the social teaching of the Church in our curriculum, we make our scholars catalysts for integral human development and enable them to achieve personal fulfillment in life.”
The VC therefore disclosed that Catholic Universities should aim to enhance human resource development, research to develop new knowledge, emphasize on economic policy and public impact research, and improve student’s innovation and capacity building.”
