Radio Africa Group and the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) have signed a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in media education, talent development, research, and production, marking a significant academia–industry partnership in Kenya’s media sector.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday at USIU-Africa’s main campus, seeks to bridge the long-standing gap between classroom training and newsroom realities by creating pathways for internships, mentorship, content creation, executive training, and innovation.
The collaboration will also explore emerging areas such as data journalism, artificial intelligence integration, digital storytelling, media business management, and joint research.
Under the MoU, USIU-Africa students will gain access to internship placements and mentorship programmes across Radio Africa Group’s broadcast, print, and digital platforms.
Students will participate in structured newsroom rotations, podcasting, media production, and digital content creation, gaining exposure to real-world editorial pressures, deadlines, and market demands.
Radio Africa Group CEO Martin Khafafa, speaking during the signing ceremony, described the partnership as a “win-win” for both institutions.
He noted that the media industry must invest in cultivating new talent amid rapid digital transformation.
“The MoU provides us with an opportunity to tap into young people, their knowledge, and to give them practical experience of what they have been studying in their classrooms. Our approach will be job creation and collaboration,” Khafafa said.
“The success of this initiative will be to produce world-class media practitioners, just like those at CNN and other leading institutions, who will emerge from this collaboration.”
He affirmed that the MoU marks the first phase of a longer relationship between the two institutions.
USIU-Africa Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Operations, Evans Amata, who signed on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, hailed the agreement as mutually beneficial and timely.
“With this MoU, we are going to gain a lot as institutions, including sharing ideas and innovations,” he said.
Amata added that they value the partnership because Radio Africa Group runs some of the leading media platforms in the country, while USIU-Africa is among the premier private universities offering highly competitive communication and journalism training.
He said the partnership will be assessed based on tangible outcomes such as the number of students taken for internships, collaborative research outputs, and innovative joint initiatives.
“Radio Africa brings practical industry experience, while we provide research and knowledge. Sharing these strengths will help us enrich and continually review our curriculum to ensure it stays market-ready,” he said.
USIU’s Chairperson of the Media and Communications Department, Robi Koki Ochieng, said the MoU aligns with the university’s push towards multimedia and digital-first journalism.
She revealed that the department is rolling out new curriculum pathways, including digital strategic communication, which integrates PR and advertising, as well as an expanded master’s programme offering both online and in-person delivery, and a planned PhD programme in two years.
“USIU-Africa thrives on ensuring our students are above par. We are moving our curriculum towards multimedia journalism with a heavy digital component so that students graduate as digitally inclined practitioners ready for the industry,” she said, assuring parents that graduates will remain highly competitive due to strong industry linkages.
Radio Africa Group Editorial Director Paul Ilado said the partnership would allow the media house to identify promising talent earlier while injecting new thinking into fast-changing newsrooms.
“With the industry evolving and new innovations shaping production and distribution, we are in the real market and face real challenges. Students come to us and we see the disconnect between what they learn in school and the realities. At Radio Africa, we nurture talent, and this MoU allows us to tap into the best,” he said.
Beyond internships, the MoU outlines content collaboration across print, digital, and podcasting platforms. USIU students will submit articles, podcasts, and digital projects for possible publication under Radio Africa’s editorial standards.
The two institutions will also co-produce a podcast competition dubbed “PodHack” (also referred to as PODCATHON), jointly own intellectual property rights for student content, and explore commercialisation opportunities for standout productions.
Radio Africa will additionally benefit from an executive management course offered by USIU-Africa, co-production of media summits and round-table discussions, and access to the university’s studios for content development.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformative Teaching, Learning and Research, Prof. Amos Njuguna, said the collaboration would propel USIU-Africa further into public and industry visibility.
“I see transformation, I see change, and I see an opportunity for mutual benefit. It will help our students through industry linkages, inspirational learning, and exposure to modern technologies. Radio Africa will gain immediate access to credible experts,” he said.
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