Strategies that can move Kenya's higher education sector forward

Kenyan universities and colleges have been in the news frequently because of the challenges that they continue to experience. The sources of these challenges are both internal and external in nature.

We have many institutions of higher learning and the population of students is equally large. There are a total of 76 universities, 46 of them public, besides training colleges. Education is a massive instrument of freedom. It gives varied capacities to students for life. Thus the importance of higher education to Kenya’s future prosperity. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. And it is also the greatest social equaliser.

It is only through excellent education that the sons of nomads can become presidential pilots of the nation, the captains of the naval ships or the bosses of the country’s treasury’. As a country since July 1, 1970 when University of Nairobi became the first national university, the higher education sector has had admirable growth in terms of quality, quantity and international reputation. Kenya is a leader in education in Africa, ranking 7th with a score of 55.4 points. 

But despite Kenya earning accolades for good performance in education, there are huge challenges in the higher education sector that call for innovative ideas. What are the best strategic ways forward for the country’s higher education sector? The best way to move the higher education sector forward is first to appreciate the importance of what education experts call ‘the six essentials of equal-ranks’ for the growth and sustainability of higher education anywhere. These include, the teaching community. Teachers and lecturers are the sources of all knowledge being provided learning institutions. Just the way oases are special in deserts, campuses are special centres because of the knowledge, skills, ethics being provided by the teaching fraternity. Second, the disciplines or courses the being offered by the various schools. Diverse education equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for various careers.

Third, the students. The very existence of higher education centres is 100 per cent dependent on regular inflows of students. The factors that attract students to a given college include excellent teaching and research, good facilities, affordability of courses, career prospects, inclusivity and security. Fourth is the milieu or the social, economic environment. Student-centred learning is a supportive and positive environment which is crucial for students, academic, social and emotional well-being. Good, supportive college environment fosters a sense of belonging, peer mentoring and promotes deep learning and helps in personal growth.

Fifth, innovative, future-proof academic leadership, good, creative leadership is essential everywhere. In the universe of human endeavours, the inter-play of the activities of Business, Education, Societies and Governments creates safe, progressive environment in which societies operate. The main source of the “Blue Nile” of national greatness is excellent, effective education. In the field of higher education, its even more critical because the well-being of the nation and its future are at stake. LEADERSHIP – loyalty, empathy, actions, dependability, ethics, reliability, sincerity, honesty, insightfulness, passion; all are the essential forces and values of inspiring, all-purpose goals achieving, timeless leaders.

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In higher education, academic leaders are the main torch-bearers of their institutions. They take scholarly learning as a life-time vocation for personal fulfillment and as a public obligation. They see the nation as an indivisible whole system where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. They demonstrate confidence and courage of the famous Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse who centuries ago said, “Give me a lever long enough - and single handed I can move the world”. Besides these essentials for the success of higher education in Kenya, there is strong need for productive, safe campuses that promote positive learning experiences. There are also six common factors that students value in any competitive college environment. These are related to students success and satisfaction. They are academic excellence and career expectations, health facilities, role models and mentors, security, social and sporting activities and, lastly, good accommodation, learning facilities, and affordable restaurants.

My personal experiences in University of Nairobi, Garissa University and University of Islamabad show that indeed there is high need for improving most of these six factors related to students’ motivation and satisfaction in order to promote positive, academic experiences in the higher education landscape. Yes, there are huge budgetary and human resources constraints. However, we have to appreciate that colleges and universities are every day in the business of creating a better future; the 'Blue Nile' of national prosperity. These are the times, therefore, for these institutions to think about developing and inspiring Kenya’s next generation of Nobel Prize winners, best knowledge auditors and managers who will determine our competitive knowledge gaps and knowledge road-maps going forward.