Things to avoid when choosing colleges in Kenya

The entire process of choosing colleges in Kenya can be a tiresome and hard, especially if the person in question does not have the Idea of what to look out for or how to go about the whole process.

The process is not just about choosing the right college, but it is about settling on the best college that can take your son or daughter to the next level of life.

It's therefore important that one gets a college that is keen on growing students and ensuring that they can be able to stand on their own once they are through with their studies.

Let's look at some of the things one needs to avoid  when looking for a good college to enroll in.

Colleges in Kenya

Things to know when choosing colleges in Kenya

Rushing the process

People need to understand that finding the right college takes time and that it is not something or a decision one can take in a day. This is because one needs to do a research on the type of college he/she wants. One also needs to send in applications for admission to various universities and colleges, this is very important since there are thousands and thousands of other students looking for a chance.

Being a follower

Just because your friend is in a particular college does not necessarily mean that you also must enroll in that college. This might seem like a good idea just because you want to be near your friends and the people you already know, but in the long run nit could turn out to be a bad idea. One needs to learn to make his/her decisions at any given time without the influence of his/her peers or friends.

Parents’ advice

Many young people do not take their parent’s advice concerning where to study that seriously. They think they are old fashioned and they are not aware of the changing trends. We are not suggesting that you go to the university or college that parents went to but to consider their advice as well when selecting the best institution.

The best thing to do is to analyze each and every advice you get from your parents and make an informed decision.

Rebellion

It’s also important to understand that as much as listening to the advice of your parents and considering some of their advice, one must also have his/her own mind. By this I don’t say that you should be rebellious, but one must be able to make vital decisions in his or her life.

You are a die hard fan

This is one of the worst mistake one can make when choosing a good college. Many tend to imagine that since they are fans of the football or rugby team of a certain university or college then it’s good to study there. Yes the university can be very good at sports, but the big question is, is it also good education wise. Is it the right institution in relation to what you want to study.

From what I have discussed above, its important that one takes time to choose the best institution especially when choosing from the various colleges in Kenya.

Study tips for students in universities in Kenya

Universities in Kenya play a very important role in ensuring the students who have finished their high school studies are able to advance their education and build up a career in life.

Its however a pity most of the students who enroll in our Kenyan universities do not actually perform well when it comes to examinations.

This can be attributed to maybe the change in the environment and influence from peers who have come from different backgrounds and carry with them different lifestyles.

Lets look at various tips university students can use to ensure that they perform better in their respective courses and that they graduate with the best grades.

universities in Kenya

Study tips for students in universities in Kenya

Ask the teacher

One of the major role of a teacher or lecturer is to help his/her students pass exams and either get a job or move on to the next stage of your education that is if you want to continue studying.

It’s therefore important that a student seeks the help of the teacher so as to understand what they have been taught better and even on issues he/she might have not understood during the lesson.

Beat the teacher

It’s very important that a student takes an initiative to ensure that he gets all that he/she needs from the teacher to pass exams. A teacher will not care much about you if you are not keen on what you really want. This is why it advisable that a student does not rely on the teachers to get everything required to pass exams.

As much a teacher is there to help you, it’s your duty entirely to ensure that you pass exams. This is why as a student, you need to understand the curriculum or syllabus you are studying and exactly what you are expected to know about each subject.

Understand the marking scheme

It’s also good to know and understand how the exams are marked and how the marks are allocated especially for different types of questions. As you do this you might find out that 75% of the mark comes from the exam you sit at the end of the academic year, while the remainder is allocated by your teacher based on coursework or projects done during the year.

Note that if 90% of your marks comes from course work and you do that poorly all year, there is no way you can expect to pass your exams even if you passed your final paper. On the other hand, if you did very well in your course work and it counts for only 10% of your total mark, you will definitely need to work hard and perform very well in the exams for you to pass. This is why it is very important that you understand where your marks will come from so as to be able to allocate your efforts accordingly.

Plan your revision

There is nothing as bad as not being well prepared for your exams. There are many theories surrounding the revision subject, but what one needs to know is that different revision strategies work differently for different people. While some people prefer concentrated revision, others prefer revising for one subject bat a time.

It is therefore important that one gets the best revision way that will best work for him/her so as to get better results. The other best way is to take it as a job whereby you can revise between certain periods of time whether you want do it or not.

You can also do this with relaxing activities so as ensure that your brain is not overloaded. You can take a break and go for a walk, listen to music or play sports as long as you are careful enough not be distracted by these activities.

Well the above are just but some of the tips that can help students in universities in Kenya manage their time well and ensure they pass their examinations.

Importance of corporate governance in Kenya

Corporate governance is a method of governing the company while stating its own customs, policies and laws to its employees from the highest to the lowest levels.

Corporate governance is very important because it increases the accountability of a company and also helps avoid massive disasters before they occur.

Corporate governance plays a major role in ensuring that an organization is able to sustain itself. This is done through the corporate governance research.

During the research, the heads or managers get to know what they exactly need to successfully run the company and also what they need to correct in order to move the company forward.

Corporate governance is also a very important tool in the success any organization since it will help a company understand the kind of competition they have and how to deal with it. This also helps the company to deal with external pressures effectively without seeking any assistance from somewhere else.

corporate governance in Kenya

Let’s look at the important principles of corporate governance as discussed below;

Principles of corporate governance in Kenya

 Shareholder recognition

Many companies tend to forget or give little attention and importance to the small shareholders to make way for the interests of the majority shareholders and the executive board. What they do not understand is that being able to recognize all your shareholders be it big or small is very important especially in maintaining a company’s stock price.

A good corporate governance will ensure that all shareholders get a voice at general meetings and are allowed to participate.

Stakeholders' interests

It’s also important that the interests of all the stakeholders are recognized by corporate governance. This way it will be easier for a company to establish a positive relationship with the community and the press.

Ethical behavior

It's always good for a good company to ensure that there are no violations of ethical behavior to favor higher profit, which could end up causing massive civil and legal problems down the road.

Companies should therefore ensure that they do not underpay their workers and should also follow environmental regulations because not doing could come back to haunt the company at the end. It’s therefore important that a code of conduct regarding ethical decisions should be established for all members of the board to follow.

Board responsibilities must be clearly outlined

Ensuring that board responsibilities are clearly outlined to majority shareholders will help grow a great deal. It’s therefore very important that all board members are on the same page and share a similar vision for the future of the company.

Business transparency

This is the key to promoting shareholder trust. All financial records and reports should be clearly stated without exaggeration or creative accounting.

As a company you need to understand its never good to give financial reports as these may lead to shareholders not trusting the company. This is also a crime punishable by law and for that reason company’s need to avoid this as much as possible.

well the above are just but a few important principles of corporate governance in Kenya.

About welding equipment in Kenya

Ever since welding was introduced in the country, welding equipment has been gaining more popularity among citizens with many of them getting into the welding world.

Welding as a process can be defined as the process where two or more pieces of metal or thermoplastics are fastened together by use of heat and pressure.

The entire process is geared at softening the material and enabling it to be fixed together as one in a joint area when an adequate amount of pressure is applied.

Everyone will agree with me when I say that welders in the country have a wide range of employment. In welding one can neither specialize in pipe welding or machinery welding.

The best thing about welding is that it can be done from any location, including underwater. 

However, It’s very important for none to note that there are different types of welding and that they are not all the same. You find out that some forms of welding use gas while others use electric. We also have a new form of welding which use laser.

Welding equipment in Kenya

When welding, there are various factors one needs to understand, for example the type of welding depends on various factors such as the thickness of the material which is usually the deciding factor.

 

Let’s look at the various types of welding equipment band how they work.

More about welding equipment in Kenya

Electroslag welder

Electroslag welder is actually designed to weld at a vertical position. This ensures that the welding does not cause distortion to the welder. It is actually a fast welding process used to join large materials such as thick steel plates. 

One would ask what the name means; it was actually derived from the use of water filled, copper areas within the device, which were included and designed solely to prevent melted ‘slag’ from pouring into other areas as it liquefied.

Flux-Cored welder

This type of welding used for projects that require fast speed as it is an automatic form of welding. Many people working on constructions prefer using this type of welding process because it is fast and it gives one the ability to work on multiple situations and on various materials.

Arc welder

This one of the most popular welding equipment in Kenya and this is because one uses less cost of the welding process. It is called ‘arc welding’ because there is an electric current created between the welding device and the materials to be welded. Sometimes the process gives an arch like appearance.

Gas Metal Arc Welder

This is an automatic welding process. It consists of the use of a welding gun, which automatically feeds the weld metal through the gun for use.

The welding process using the arc metal Arc welder saves a lot of time and is best if one has a large quantity of welding work and it is used by mostly welders in the automobile repair and manufacturing industries.

Well the above are just but some of the many welding processes done through various welding equipment in Kenya.

  

Tips on how to choose Universities in Kenya

As students finish their secondary education, it is the dream of each one of them to join one of the best universities in Kenya.

The problem is how to identify the best institution that will suit their educational needs and nature their lives even after completing their studies.

Since there are various things involved in the entire process of choosing the best institution, most students will tell you that this is a very stressful process.

However, this need not be the case since the process of selecting a university can be actually fun depending on the approach one decides to take.

Universities in Kenya

Lets look as of the factors one needs to consider when selecting the best university to study in.

Choosing the best universities in Kenya

Make a list

This is the first step in selecting the type of university you want to study in. Draw a list comprising of all the colleges you may want to study in. Then do a research on each of them as you eliminate the ones you feel are not the best choice. Do this until you remain with a smaller list of universities.

Rank your priorities

Before settling on a specific college or university, one needs to identify the various aspects of college life. Check the size of the school and see if you will be comfortable studying there. These should be done according to ones preferences and way of life.

Visit the institution

It’s always important for one to do a physical visit to the university of your choice before deciding to enroll in. This will give bone the chance to view and feel the environment and decide if he/she will be comfortable. One can also take this chance to tour the institution and see how big it is and if all the amenities such as shops and cafeteria are available.

Check on the costs

This is none of the most important factors when choosing ban institution of higher learning. One needs to check how a university charges for the particular course he/she intends to take. This will help in ensuring that you are able to choose an institution which is convenient in terms of the cost and that you will not have difficulties paying the fees. Compare the fees of various universities and make the choice that best suits your financial capabilities.

University courses

It’s important to note that universities do not offer all courses and so one needs to identify a university which is offering the particular course he/she intends to study. Check if the institution excels in your preferred course.

Ask around

The other way of getting a better university is asking some of the people who have been in the institution as students. They will be in a better position to advise since they have passed through the institution themselves. You can also ask some relatives or teachers who may also have the right information concerning a particular university.

Co curricular activities

If you are a sport loving person, it will be good to enroll in an institution which has clear sporting activities. This way you will be able to nurture your sport talents while studying at the same time.

Well, one can use the above tips to easily get the best institution from the many universities in Kenya.

Importance of engineering consultancy in Kenya

In the recent past, there has been an increase of engineering consultancy in Kenya since many people are getting into the construction industry.

Today the percentage of engineering services being outsourced has increased more than anyone could imagine.

Unlike in the past where people used to ignore consulting engineers on various issues pertaining to the construction of any building, people are now more keen on ensuring they get all the professional help and advice they can get.

Payment for the consultant engineer should be based on the duration and scale of the project in question.

Engineering Consultancy in Kenya

Let’s look at some of the services offered by engineering consultants in the country.

Importance of engineering consultancy in Kenya

Products

When you employ consultancy services from an engineer, you will definitely get the best services and even the end product will be perfect and of high standard. When you compare an end product that has gone through the hands of an engineering consultant, you will agree with me when I say that the end product will be of high quality.

Advice

A consulting engineer should recommend or advice the client on the importance of a consulting engineer undertaking entire service during construction. This way the engineer will be able to exercise comprehensive powers under the construction contract as the client’s agent.

He will also act as an independent arbitrator on matters concerning the construction.

Arranging a contract

The consulting engineer is the one responsible for arranging the contract and ensures that everything goes on as stipulated in the contract.

Project management

Consulting engineers can be contracted by a client to plan and manage a project in its entirety. Their services are very important to the client, especially if he does not have the necessary resources to manage a project, especially if the project is complex or large.

The firm will therefore provide design services, construction management, procurement among others.

Specialized design and development services

It’s easy for one to get specialized design and development services from consulting engineers since they are able to research and develop new designs, concepts, process inventions. The entire process is normally done in conjunction with the client’s own staff, thus making it more perfect.

Design and supervision services for construction

These processes normally comprise of three phases which includes;

Basic design

In this phase the consulting engineer is in charge of producing drawings, specifications and other contract documents. He also ensures that the clients needs are met in a planned and orderly way and provides general monitoring of construction.

Special services

This actually includes special inspection and testing, purchasing, scheduling, cost control, resident supervision of construction, assisting in placing equipment in operation and special record drawings and operation  manuals.

Pre design

These include feasibility studies, topographical and other surveys, negotiations regarding services and utilities and soils investigations, functional designs. All the above mentioned are needed to establish feasibility and the design criteria.

Well, I believe from the information discussed above, one will be able to understand the importance of engineering consultancy in Kenya.

Things to consider before installing solar panels in Kenya

Solar panels in Kenya continue to play a major role in ensuring that there is power supply, especially when there is an electricity blackout.

The good thing about solar energy is that nit is more cheaper once you have installed when you compare it to electricity. This is because one does not have to pay every month for the power supply since it comes from the sun.

The only time one incurs costs is in the buying and installation of the solar panels and after that, one only needs to worry about maintaining the panel so as to ensure that last longer and serve you better.

Let's look at some of the important factors one needs to look out for or consider before installing a solar panel.

Factors to consider before installing solar panels in Kenya

Cost of installation

After buying a solar panel, it's important for one to check out the cost of installation. This can even be done long before you even buy the panel itself. This is very important in that you will want to understand how much the person who will install I for you will charge you so that you can plan.

When to start saving

Buying and installing solar panels is a great way for one to save money. This is why it is important to note that if you decide to do a pre-paid power purchase agreement, or buy the system outright, you will have an upfront expense, but save more in the long run.

Solar panels in Kenya

The type of panels to use

It's important for one to understand the fact that solar panels are not created the same and so there is a big possibility that they will not work the same. Most of them are manufactured by different manufacturers and thus they may work differently depending on the duties.

Let’s look at the size of the panel. One needs to look at the size of the solar panel you need to install so as to see if it can fit on top of your roof without any issues. It’s therefore important that you consider the size of the panel in relation to the size of the roof. This is just to ensure that you have enough space to fit it.

Who will do the installation

When it comes to solar panel installation, you cannot just trust anyone one in the name of being a technician. One needs to ensure that he/she contacts a trained professional to install the panel. This is to avoid making mistakes with people who pretend to know how to install the panels.

The type of roof you have

This is one area most people fail to look into before buying a solar panel. This is very important since roofs come in different shapes, sizes and materials. As much as solar panels can be installed on the roof, you need to do some research about it.

For example, installing a panel on a composite shingle can be a very quick exercise unlike installing on Spanish tile which requires different mounting systems and may take a longer time. This is why it is important that bone gets an installer with the experience in your roof type so as to avoid issues during rainy season.

Its therefore very important that one understands what to look out for when buying and installing solar panels in Kenya.