University Students Taking These Courses Under Siege
Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama asserts that the group must keep working towards its goal by making deliberate interventions that are catered to the needs of certain individuals.
Kiama claims that the senate recently discussed this issue and authorised a number of focused initiatives meant to increase the university’s relevance, vibrancy, and sustainability.
During the 67th Graduation, where 85 PhDs were awarded, Kiama said that this would make it simpler to develop a unified undergraduate curriculum that is in line with regional, national, and international demands.
More than 250 units were removed from the curriculum in 2021 in order to make it shorter.
In addition to reducing more courses from the existing 324 offerings, Kiama said the university would only staff key departments and put more of an emphasis on engineering, medicine, and IT.
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We reduced the number of appointments we had, committed to concentrating on our flood ship activities, and downsized our schedules. We have accumulated 8.2 billion through this procedure over the last three years, and we’re still counting,” Kiama continued.
The professor asserts that the reengineering of financial processes was made possible by minimising waste and leaks in the organization’s financial systems.
Despite all efforts to make education more relevant, he continued, the university’s operating expenditures have increased.
This financial benefit is still being reduced by underfunded differential unit costs and unfunded collective bargaining agreements between the company and the unions. Our payroll will increase by 1.6 billion as a result of the most recent CBA, he claimed.
The choice to safeguard its sustainability was made, according to a memo from the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor DVC Academic Affairs Prof. Julius Okeng’o dated September 19, 2022.
The statement states that “By a copy of this memo, the Director of Information and Communication Technology is required to completely withdraw them from the system.”
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Kiama pleaded on the government to approve the university’s plan and provide it with the funding it needs to fulfil its obligations to the nation.
He asserts that on June 30, 2022, the University of Nairobi foundation was established as a special purpose vehicle to gather charitable money for the university.
According to Amb. Simon Nabukwesi, PS for University Education and Research, colleges should offer courses that are applicable to the labour market.
Nabukwesi declares, “We wish for universities to advance and even profoundly compete with the best of the universities globally. We want to support sustainability.”
the knowledge fountain at the University of Nairobi. The following year, freshmen won’t study 10 common units.
He counselled colleges to find internal solutions in order to ensure their financial security.
institutions collaborate with foreign partners on a worldwide scale, and these institutions are able to secure sizable research grants that help them deliver both teaching and research.
Nabukwesi praised UoN for making the effort to develop regionally focused solutions to address the problems.
“I’m delighted UoN is leading by example by turning to internal resources to maintain financial stability. According to Nabukwesi, the new paradigm shift in higher education is not an option if we want to generate graduates with skills.
According to Prof. Kiama, the organisation began to investigate the situation because it truly scared for its reputation.
Sadly, there are still hazardous ambers despite the fact that we discovered and put out a burning house. We cannot afford to relax while seated. Prof. Kiama cautioned us to be vigilant because the fire can rekindle and include significant elements.
According to Kiama, the doctor’s allowances were increased in 2020–2021 even though there wasn’t enough money to pay them. University capitation was decreased.
The government has lowered the financial strain on universities, according to Nabukwesi, who acknowledged the problem.
The administration is aware that the higher education sector has continued to experience resource shortages. We have all vice chancellors from public universities with whom we have been strategizing in Mombasa,” he continued.
He informed them that the ministry is eager to meet with the new administration and any other interested parties in order to find long-term solutions for universities.
University Students Taking These Courses Under Siege