This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
Published on August 8, 2019, Peter Berachesebe Kibas, a professor of entrepreneurship and management at Zetech University, has had a remarkable journey to his current position. Born with a passion for teaching, Kibas started his career as a high school teacher employed by the Teacher Service Commission after his training at Kenyatta College (present day Kenyatta University) in 1974.
It was during his time as a high school teacher that Kibas was inspired by his Canadian Business Education instructor, Professor Porozny, who had a profound impact on his life. This encounter sparked a burning desire in Kibas to pursue further education, which led him to obtain a Bachelor's degree from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada, followed by a Master's degree and finally a Doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
After completing his PhD, Kibas switched jobs from a Deputy Registrar (Principal Administrative Officer) to a full-time lecturer at Moi University in January 1996. Through hard work, determination, and a combination of teaching, research, consultancy, and presentations, Kibas rose through the ranks to become a full-time professor in 2006.
As a professor, Kibas is highly respected in Kenya, and his opinions are taken seriously. He believes that entrepreneurship is a way of life, and it has elements of both inborn and environmental nurturing and learning. Kibas recommends that entrepreneurship elements should be taught progressively from pre-primary school to university to develop and nurture the entrepreneurial mindset throughout an individual's growth stages.
At Zetech University, Kibas is an expert in business research and innovation. He emphasizes the importance of research and innovation in courses like business and entrepreneurship, citing the need to alleviate key challenges facing the country, such as unemployment, disease, and poverty. To achieve this, Kibas suggests that the government and development partners should provide sufficient finances for research and training in entrepreneurial innovation and technology.
Under Kibas' leadership, Zetech University has set up a research directorate to spearhead research initiatives. The university also conducts training for faculty and students on various aspects of research and holds an annual research and innovation international conference. Students undergo at least one study unit in research, which involves both theory and conducting actual research in the field, followed by the presentation of results to a panel of examiners.
