Department of Design and Creative Media

The Department of Design and Creative Media Technology is the successor to the very successful Graphic Arts department, which had been training design practitioners and technicians in Graphic Design for decades here at the Poly. The new department has expanded its offering beyond Graphic Design to include Industrial and Product Design, Interactive Media Design, Sustainable Design and Communication Design.

The department currently has just over 200 students on certificate, diploma and degree programmes; our intention is to transition these students to postgraduate level. The recent staff recruitment by the College has helped in this endeavour – the fulltime teaching staff compliment has doubled from 6 at the end of 2010 to 12 at the beginning of 2012; one of these lecturers, Mrs Mary Clare Kidenda, who is also Assistant Dean, School of Creative Arts and Technologies, is beginning her PhD at Coventry University, UK, in April 2012. Her research will look at the use of cartoons in sustainable product development in the context of Jua Kali and Kenya’s Vision 2030.

The department has established a research discussion group, design baraza, which meets every fortnight. Through these discussions, we have identified design research areas to focus on in the near-term; these include sustainable systems and technologies, human-environment interactions as well as design history, documentation, digitisation and e-learning.  The impetus behind this selection is to place design at the intersection of humans and the natural and man-made world. In this way, design becomes a social, cultural and business endeavour, serving humanity in aesthetic and functional ways. Underlying this is the drive for design consciousness – building awareness and demonstrating through teaching, research and practice that design can improve lives, advance development and create wealth and wellbeing.

Career prospects: It is expected that those who have studied and graduated in the areas of Design and Creative Media will find exciting opportunities in publishing houses, advertising agencies, public relations companies, broadcasting houses and multimedia production agencies. However, with the growing business opportunities in manufacturing, education, healthcare and agricultural sectors, there has been dire need for creative services in advertising, publishing, packaging and broadcasting. This has in turn driven organisations to recruit creative designers to their workforce, rather than rely exclusively on consultants.

Courses Offered

• Bachelor of Technology (Design)
• Diploma in Technology (Design)
• Diploma in Graphic Design and Communication
• Certificate in Graphic Design

Department of Fashion and Textiles

Fashion and textiles have been enormously important throughout human history so have their materials, production tools and techniques, cultural influences and social significance. As the economy of a country improves, Fashion and textile industry is also changing rapidly. The changes include technology, increased investment opportunity and trade, globalization of markets, products and the liberalization of the Kenyan economy.

Based on this background, the Department’s main objectives are to prepare students who will “hit the ground running” in the field of Fashion design, Textile design and technology as well as Hair design and beauty management. The department of fashion design and Textile technology was set up in the year 1986 with the aim of training middle level personnel in the field of clothing Technology. At that time there were no other institution in Kenya offering diploma in the field. The department works with other Textile institutions such as such as Export Processing Zones (EPZ),Kenya Textile Training Institute (K.T.T.I), African Cotton and Textiles Industries Federation (ACTIF) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

In addition to the fashion and textile programme, the department offer Hair and Beauty course, with the objective of graduating students with wide range of career opportunities which include; Beauticians, Hair stylists, Personal stylists, Barbers, make-up artists, Masseur, Salon Manager, Nail Technologist, Skin care specialist, Braiding/ Weaving Specialist, barber, Chemical Specialist.
The department is unique because it offers extensive pattern and garment construction courses that are not common in other institutions. Furthermore, our students undertake their industrial exposure in EPZ where they are exposed to the latest technology as well as fashion trends.  Future plans of the department include completion of Diploma, Bachelor and Masters curricula, acquisition of Computer Aided Technology as well as textile lab is underway.

Career prospects: The fashion and textile industry looks up to our graduates to provide technical skills required in provision of products and services that serve both functional and aesthetic values. At the end of this course, our trainees will be absorbed in textile industries such as: EPZ, Design houses, Boutiques, Garment manufacturers, Theatres and studios. They can also choose to venture into Consultancy, Self-employment, or seek careers in technical training.
Courses Offered

• Diploma in Clothing Technology
• Diploma in Fashion Design and Garment Making
• Certificate in Fashion Design and Garment Making
• Certificate in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy

 Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

The department of Journalism and Mass Communication was set up in the year 2001 with the aim of training middle level personnel in the field of journalism and mass communication. At that time there was a big gap for middle level personnel in the industry, but very few institutions offered the course.  The then department of Graphic Arts started to offer the course during evening s because of the challenge of lecturers. They used to come from the industry to teach in the evening only. In 2008 the first day class was admitted and the department now has both day and evening classes to cater for trainee from the industry who are employed and would like to acquire training in journalism.

From September 2011, the department admitted the first-degree students. Together with diploma their course includes the technology aspect of journalism where the learners have more exposure to transmission tools and equipment and their use in media convergence both in the field and in media houses.

Career prospects: Our graduates will proceed to become writers, reporters or editors in newsrooms , print or electronic, and owing to the practical skills acquired, they will be able to handle journalistic equipment and processes with a lot of aptitude. They also have the choice to work as  communications and public relations experts, and will work as the link between the organisation they work for and other stakeholders.

Courses Offered

• Bachelor of Technology in Journalism and Mass Communication
• Diploma in Technology (Journalism and Public Relations)
• Certificate in Photography and Audio Visual

Department of Music and Performing Arts

The department was created in 2009 but did not have any students. The first lecturer to be posted to the department came in January 2011.  By December 2011 the department had four lecturers; who developed curricula for the January 2012 intake.

What makes your department unique?
The department is unique because it offers both academic and extra-curriculum activities to the students  

Achievements since Oct 2011
The department has been able to constitute a student college choir, a staff college choir and a college band.  During last year’s graduation the lecturers organized and participated in the entertainment. The students’ choir successfully participated in the Mashujaa day celebrations at State House Nairobi.

Future, immediate long time plans
Future plans include completion of Masters and PhD curricula, acquisition of music books and more instruments for the department. There is also need to develop a strong music performance club for internal and external use.

Career prospects: It is expected that those who have studied and graduated in the areas of Design and Creative Media will find exciting opportunities in publishing houses, advertising agencies, public relations companies, broadcasting houses and multimedia production agencies. However, with the growing business opportunities in manufacturing, education, healthcare and agricultural sectors, there has been dire need for creative services in advertising, publishing, packaging and broadcasting. This has in turn driven organisations to recruit creative designers to their workforce, rather than rely exclusively on consultants.
Courses Offered

• Diploma in Music
• Certificate in Music

Department of Printing and Media Technology

The department provides a comprehensive practical grounding in all aspects of prepress, press preparations, print and post printing processes. The course also looks closely at digital media production and prepares students for the diverse and technically advanced Print industry. The course is designed to enable art and design graduates and creative practitioners to develop knowledge and skills to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and digital imaging and colour manipulation techniques in the development of design ideas.
Career prospects: At the end of the course, the trainee should be able to work effectively and efficiently in a printing press, publishing house or in packaging industry. This is thanks to the technical and conceptual skills acquired in print technologies at The Kenya Polytechnic University College. The trainee should take advantage of the pride that we take across the eastern African region and beyond as the most respected trainers in print media technologies.
Courses Offered

• Bachelor of Philosophy (Printing)
• Higher Diploma in Printing Technology
• Diploma in Printing Technology
• Diploma in Printing and Packaging
• Certificate in Print Origination
• Certificate in Machine Printing
• Certificate in Print Finishing
• Book Repair Maintenance

Minimum Qualifications:

BACHELOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Credit Pass in a relevant Higher Diploma or Pass in a relevant Higher Diploma with two years working experience

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY (POST-DIPLOMA)
Credit Pass in a relevant Diploma or Pass in a relevant Diploma with two years working experience

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
KCSE Mean Grade C+ (Plus), including C+ (Plus) in relevant subjects

DIPLOMAS
KCSE Mean Grade C - (Minus), including C - (Minus) in relevant subjects or A Certificate in a related course

CERTIFICATES
KCSE Mean Grade D+ (Plus) or A portfolio of previous work for those taking specialised courses like Graphic Design and Fashion Design

Intake: January, May and September

Duration:
B.Tech (K.C.S.E): (4 academic years)
B.Phil and B.Tech (Post Diploma): – (4 Semesters)
Diplomas: Between 6 semesters and 8 semesters
Certificates: 2 semesters (1 academic year)

Mode of Study: All programmes are available for Government sponsored and Self-sponsored students,
and can be taken on full-time or part time basis. Please refer to list of Courses