BACKGROUND

For more than a decade, the Kenyan chapter of The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has held the annual Engineering Student’s Exhibition.
The exhibition has gained momentum over the years with a wealth of supporters and participants. The quality of display has flourished to show case innovation in engineering, ICT, mobile application and renewable energy.


IThe goal of the exhibition is to drive students to develop their skills and to give them a deeper insight into technology coupled with market demand. The preparation and presentation of projects will challenge them to mix and match their theoretical and practical skills. Past exhibitions have been an invaluable networking opportunity for local and international participants. In addition the exhibition drives research and development in the engineering and computing sector.

Strengths and Opportunities
The Engineering Students’ Exhibition brings together the academia, industries and government to realize the important opportunity of linkage creation and collaboration towards finding ways in improving higher education for better socio economic development and empowerment of the youth.

Other expected outcomes of the exhibition include:
·    A new generation of employees available for hire.
·    Encourage our youth to have a sustainable role in society and capacity to communicate creatively in their professional careers
·    Encourage women in engineering
·   Creation of an Innovation System Portal and youth framework policies.
· Link private sector and academia to fuel academic development.
·  To help students network and build bridges from various colleges, regions and countries.
·   To support invention and entrepreneurship in order to sustain development.
·   Encourage, foster and apply innovative and entrepreneurial breakthroughs in partnership with private sector.
 

The engineering students’ exhibition has been running since 1997.
·  Organisations in the private sector came out strongly in support of the exhibition by donating prizes and providing employment opportunities.
· The exhibition is supported by some of the leading international organisations and companies including Lemelson Foundation, Google, IBM and IEEE.
·  In addition the event is also supported by the Government through the Ministry of Youth Affairs, The Ministry of Information and Communication and the Secretariat for E - Governance.

The Government through the Ministry of Youth has created a body to loan funds for starting of micro-businesses by the youth. The exhibition as an entity can identify viable projects with a view of the youth borrowing funds for setting up small enterprise