Doctor of Philosophy in Innovation and Sustainable Development
The Doctor of Philosophy in Innovation and Technology Management is a doctoral programme offered at JKUAT through the College of Engineering and the School of Business. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in innovation management, technology management and entrepreneurship.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 235,244 a year at a public institution, Ksh 705,732 to Ksh 1,176,220 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 313,700 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of Masters Degree or above, plus 1 subject grade. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Applied Ethicist, at 20 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The programme addresses Kenya's innovation ecosystem research and technology management development needs.
Students engage with advanced topics in innovation theory, technology management, R&D management, entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, technology transfer, intellectual property management, innovation policy, disruptive technologies and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops innovation management insights for Kenya's technology and enterprise development.
Kenya's Silicon Savannah development, innovation hub growth, technology startup ecosystem, R&D commercialisation needs, intellectual property challenges and the national innovation agenda create demand for doctoral-level innovation and technology management expertise. The programme supports Kenya's innovation-driven development goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research at JKUAT. The programme is listed as PhD Innovation and Technology Management with total cost KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee is KSh 1,500. Duration is 3-5 years.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, innovation researchers, technology managers, R&D consultants and entrepreneurship educators. They work in universities, Kenya National Innovation Agency, tech companies, research institutes and innovation hubs.
What you study
10 subjects- Innovation Theory and Management
- Technology Management and Strategy
- R&D Management and Commercialisation
- Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation
- Innovation Ecosystems and Clusters
- Technology Transfer and Diffusion
- Intellectual Property Management
- Innovation Policy and Governance
- Disruptive Technologies and Digital Transformation
- Research Methods in Innovation Studies
Modules
8 in the programmeInnovation Theory and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Innovation theory, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Technology Management and Strategy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Technology management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
R&D Management and Commercialisation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
R&D management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Technology Transfer and Diffusion
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Technology transfer, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Innovation Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Innovation policy, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Research Methods in Innovation Studies
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.
Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Doctoral thesis research and dissertation writing, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the.
Specialisations
Entrepreneurship
Research on entrepreneurship
R&D Management
Research on R&D management
Innovation Policy
Research on innovation policy
Technology Transfer
Research on technology transfer
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting innovation research, analysing technology adoption data, reviewing innovation literature, attending seminars on technology management, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Kenya National Innovation Agency, innovation hubs and tech companies for research collaboration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's innovation agenda creates strong demand | Interdisciplinary field requires business and technology knowledge |
| Access to Kenya National Innovation Agency and innovation hubs | Industry access for research can be challenging |
| Research contributes to innovation-driven development | Rapidly evolving field requires continuous learning |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 188 arts & humanities coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
JKUAT ~170K/yr, KU ~235K (ku.ac.ke). Kabarak 313.7K. Strathmore unverified.
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants for science and technology research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedHELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
At JKUAT: Masters degree from JKUAT or recognised institution. PhD Innovation and Technology Management. Application fee KSh 1,500. Total KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Duration 3-5 years.
When it next starts
Taught at 3 institutionsIncluding University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, case studies and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at JKUAT (PhD Innovation and Technology Management, total KSh 510,500 over 3 years). Kenya National Innovation Agency supports innovation research.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesUniversity Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in business and engineering
Innovation Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research on innovation
R&D Consultant
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on R&D projects
Technology Manager
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Technology at companies and agencies
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, innovation researchers, technology managers and R&D consultants. They work at Kenya National Innovation Agency, tech companies, research institutes and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Applied EthicistArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- ChoreographerArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- Interfaith Dialogue FacilitatorArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- EpigrapherArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Indigenous Knowledge SpecialistArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Manuscript ConservatorArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Museum EducatorArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Theological ResearcherArts & Humanities22Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Innovation management is just about startups.
The field covers R&D management, technology transfer, IP management, innovation policy and ecosystems.
There is no demand for innovation PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's Silicon Savannah and innovation agenda create strong demand.
Innovation research is purely practical.
The programme uses empirical research, case studies, statistical analysis and policy analysis.
Only business graduates study this PhD.
The programme attracts engineers, scientists and policy analysts.