I wish to send my cordial greetings to all our current students, staff, prospective Hospitality and Tourism students, and all our collaborators on this special occasion as Strathmore University celebrates the formal launch of the School of Hospitality and Tourism. This School will offer training in degree, diploma and certificate programmes. It will also provide an executive education to professionals in the industry.

In nurturing graduates with substantial human and professional qualities, who will offer a significant contribution, the School has decided to work closely with the key players in the industry — countrywide. And as a first step towards this collaboration and partnership, an advisory board, whose membership ranges from senior Hospitality and Tourism executives to outstanding academicians in this field, has been created.

An entrepreneurial education is a feature of Strathmore's curriculum. Its courses and research aim at enhancing the country's competitiveness thereby contributing toward economic and social progress for the people of Kenya. Likewise through its research and education programmes, the School of Hospitality and Tourism will endeavour to contribute to the competitiveness of this industry in the international arena. Since in collaboration with industry it will equip its graduates with the relevant professional and entrepreneurial skills as well as innovative hands-on training.

I would like to call upon the key players in this industry — the Tourist Hotels, the Tour and Travel companies— to come forward and work with us to realise this noble project. It is this kind of partnership between industry and university that is a key driver toward industrial transformation, innovation and global positioning of businesses.

Prof John Odhiambo
Vice Chancellor