Mount Kenya University Chancellor, In accordance with the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, Section 38 on Appointment of a Chancellor of a Private University, and pursuant to Mount Kenya University Charter 2011, Section 10(b), the Board of Directors of Mount Kenya University appoints PROFESSOR JOHN STRUTHERS as the University’s 2nd Chancellor.
Professor John J Struther, Chancellor Mount Kenya University
PROF. JOHN STRUTHERS’ EXPERIENCE
Prof. Struthers has 40 years of work experience, much of it in academia.
He was appointed Personal Professor at University of the West of Scotland (UWS), then known as the University of Paisley, in 1996. He has been Dean of Faculty of Business at UWS, Head of Department of Economics and Enterprise and founding Head of the UWS’ Graduate School.
Prof. Struthers has lectured in Nigeria (University of Ilorin) and Sierra Leone (University of Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College). He has also carried out research in Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Prof. Struthers has authored extensive academic articles in a range of journals, principally in the field of development economics, especially on commodities such as coffee and cocoa.
He has previously been a Director of a leading Scottish Chamber of Commerce as well as a Local Enterprise Trust in Scotland. He was also a board member of Waterwatch Scotland, a water industry consumer body as well as an Academic Assessor for the UK Government’s Fast Stream Civil Selection Board, which recruits top economics graduates for positions in the UK civil service. Prof. Struthers has also advised the Scottish Government on
international development issues.
Since 2009, he has participated in and chaired Quality Assurance Reviews for the Higher Education Unit of the Quality Assurance Authority of Bahrain. He is a current member of the Westminster Africa Business Group in London.
Prof. Struthers has supervised 19 PhD students to completion. He has been external examiner of more than 30 Doctorates at a number of UK universities. Until 2016, he was a Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Glasgow within the Adam Smith
Business School.
In 1993, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London (FRSA), and in 2007 a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK).
CENTRE FOR AFRICAN RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CAREED)
Prof. Struthers is the current Director of CAREED, which is based at the University of the West of Scotland. The Centre, among other roles, promotes ties in Africa with a strong focus on commodities and trade, logistics and global value chains, and entrepreneurship.
HONORARY CONSUL FOR ETHIOPIA IN SCOTLAND
In 2015, Prof. Struthers was appointed by the Government of Ethiopia as Honorary Consul for Ethiopia in Scotland.
APPRECIATION TO THE 1ST CHANCELLOR
Prof. Struthers takes the MKU Chancellorship from PROF. VICTORIA WELLS WULSIN, who has served the University from the time it was granted a letter of Interim Authority in 2008, and seeing it get awarded Charter in 2011.
Prof. Wulsin served two full terms of five years each up to February 2018. Under her stewardship, MKU made great strides in establishing national, regional and international networks, partnerships and linkages. The university has become competitive in research grants, entrepreneurship and leadership.
With gratitude, the Board of Directors, University Council, Senate, Management Board, Staff, Students, Parents and Guardians thank and appreciate Prof. Wulsin for her outstanding contribution, and wish her success in her future undertakings.