Tom Kwanya is an associate professor in the Department of Information and Knowledge Management at the Technical University of Kenya. He is currently also serving as the Director of the School of Information and Communication Studies. Prior to joining academics fulltime in 2013, he worked as a consultant on public information and knowledge management. Some of the key consultancy positions he held include serving as a World Bank communication consultant seconded to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Southern Sudan, Juba; knowledge management consultant for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women); public information specialist and team leader of the Public Sector Information Project for the Republic of South Sudan, Juba; communications consultant for the County Government of Bungoma; technical advisor on communication, documentation and knowledge management for Management Sciences for Health, Kenya; and a facilitator of a 5-day professional course on the fundamentals of organisational knowledge management on behalf of the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) in Kenya, Mozambique, the Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia. He holds BSc in Information Sciences (MU); MA in Communication Studies (UoN); and PhD in Information Studies (UKZN). He is an associate trainer for communications and e-resources management at the Training Centre in Communication (TCC).

Key Accomplishments

• Authored 31 articles in peer review journals; 2 university-level books; 4 edited books; and 17 book chapters;
• Presented 46 papers in international, regional and local academic conferences;
• Delivered 6 keynote addresses in international academic conferences;
• Supervised 5 PhD and 22 Master’s candidates;
• Examined 13 PhD and 23 Master’s theses;
• Served as external examiner for 6 Kenyan and 4 foreign universities;
• Serves as the Editor in Chief of the Regional Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, and as an editorial board member of 3 academic journals;
• Authored several articles in newspapers and magazines;
• Serves as a member of the Information Science Services Technical Committee, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS);
• Designed and/or reviewed several academic curricula; and
• Serves as the Lead Trainer, the Regional Institute of Information and Knowledge Management.

Mr. Outa was born in 1986 in Kenya. He attained a BSc. in Applied Aquatic Science from Egerton University (Kenya) in 2010. He then proceeded to attain a Joint MSc. in Limnology and Wetland Management from UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education (Delft, Netherlands), BOKU University (Vienna, Austria) and Egerton University (Njoro, Kenya) in 2014. Mr. Outa is currently a DAAD scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Fisheries Science at Kisii University (Kisii, Kenya).

Mr. Outa has worked in various research projects in the field of Limnology and Fisheries and has over 10 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Among the projects is the Japanese funded Lake Victoria Comprehensive Research Development (LAVICORD) Project. Under this project, he underwent training on scientific research, design, data collection and management skills at Nagasaki University, Japan. He was also part of the Ecology of Livelihoods in African Papyrus Wetlands (ECOLIVE) Project hosted by Victoria Institute of Environment and Development (VIRED) International. Under these multidisciplinary research projects, Mr. Outa has interacted and worked with renowned world-class researchers from various parts of the world. He underwent a ToT Training at TCC (Africa) on Scientific Communication and Writing.

Currently, he is the Head of Training and Capacity Development at the Centre for Research and Technology Development (RESTECH Kenya). In this capacity, he trains fresh graduates on scientific research communication and publishing skills. He is also a part-time lecturer in Maseno, Kisii, Universities and KWS Training Institute- Naivasha, Kenya. Outa is a trained Peer Counselor with immense passion for the youth. He founded the AQUITY Youth Group in 2010 to mentor and educate the youth in Obunga slums, Kisumu on social issues affecting them (Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, Relationships, Religion and violence) as well as on matters education.

Mr. Outa is an independent, open minded thinker and scholar whose dream is to bring a change in the world through research!!

Academic Qualifications

2015: Certificate in Science communication, Stellenbosch University, S. Africa

2015: Master of Information Science, Kisii University

2009: Master of Arts in Medical sociology, University of Nairobi

2001: Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Development Studies, University of Nairobi

2000: Bachelor of Library and Information Science, Makerere University, Kampala

Career Objective

To utilize the knowledge I have gained from my experience and studies in empowering others to make the world a better place to live in.

Employment

Currently: University of Nairobi Institutional Repository Manager

Previously : E- Resources Librarian, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi

·         My work involves training both students and lecturers on how to use online and electronic resources.

·         I am the lead trainer on issues of academic integrity, the use of plagiarism detection software and research communication in the university of Nairobi

·         College of Biological and Physical Sciences Chairperson of the Gender mainstreaming College Committee. My responsibility is to carry out bi-annual Gender mainstreaming training in the college, write reports and do annual evaluation of the gender parity progress in the college.

·         2000- 2012  National Secretary of the Kenya Library Association (KLA), Vice Chairperson as well as a member of  the organizing committee of the Maktaba Library of the Year Awards.

Consultancies

My main consulting areas have been on Academic integrity, Science communication, Information literacy, Automated Referencing & citing, Gender and information utilization, Gender mainstreaming and Gender and Health

Publications

Five publications which can be found in my ORCiD No. 0000-0002-2010-0784

I am a senior lecturer with fourteen (14) years teaching experience in crop production under varying environmental conditions, postharvest handling and food safety having 17 publications in refereed Journals of which, I am lead author on 7 publications. I am involved in the management of agricultural R4D involving national; regional and international partners including extension services, NGOs, private sector participation and farmers. I have experience in strategic thinking and formulation of research projects and development strategies, project management and evaluation. I have been the Principal Investigator on four projects since completing my PhD in 2010 and in total involved in eight research projects with international partners. I have effective communication skills in articulating results to scientists and other audiences. Besides I have proven writing, presentation and facilitation skills.

I am currently serving and have served in various positions in the university committees that include; Departmental Curriculum Review committee, Faculty of Agriculture proposal development committee, Faculty focal point for common undergraduate courses, Departmental representative in the Faculty Time tabling committee, Chairman- Faculty of Agriculture Industrial attachment Committee and Coordinator-Mentorship program in the centre for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies (CSDES) of the University of Nairobi.