In March 2019, Multimedia University of Kenya established a National Institute for Optics & Lasers (NIOL). This happened as a result of an infrastructure grant by the National Research Fund (NRF) to the University to establish a National Center for Training and Research in Optics and Lasers.
The National Institute for Optics and Lasers will train students in the area of Optics and Lasers at certificate, diploma, undergraduate and Postgraduate levels and conduct research in the same discipline. This will be achieved by establishing and offering diverse market oriented programmes at these levels.
Currently, MMU is offering a Bachelors degree programme in Applied Optics and Lasers and plans to launch two Master of Science programs in Applied Optics and Laser Technology respectively before the end of the year 2021. The Pioneering class undertaking BSc in Applied Optics and Lasers graduated in 2020. This class completed a 3-month industrial attachment in 2019. A number of companies which hosted them for the attachment gave a very positive feedback. In some cases, the companies have committed to offer more slots for industrial attachment in the coming years.
To enhance training at NIOL, two training and one research laboratories will be commissioned in the second quarter of 2021. This will be used by MMU students and will be accessible by other stakeholders with an interest in Optics and Lasers.
Graduates in Optics and Lasers will find employment opportunities nationally, regionally and internationally in areas such as Laser development, integrating Lasers into products and systems and in Laser based application facilities. Additionally, a career in Applied Optics and Lasers will also offer the graduate a possibility of undertaking cutting edge research at postgraduate level.
We, welcome you to be part of the National Institute for Optics & Lasers and the wider Multimedia University of Kenya Family.
Dr. David Wekesa
AG. Director NIOL
