MKU remains the most preferred University in the Region

MKU has sustainably remained the most preferred University and a premier institution of higher learning in East Africa by providing the necessary physical and human resources, the University Board of Trustee Chairman Simon Nyutu Gicharu has said.

Speaking to the press at MKU main campus in Thika yesterday, Gicharu said his University continued to create an enabling environment for realization of their Vision, which is to be a centre of Excellence in training, research and innovation in Science & Technology in Africa.

He said since the award of the University Charter, students’ enrollment has continued on an upward trend at all levels of training being an indicator of the preference of MKU as a university of choice. The students’ population is projected to be more than 50,000 and more than 3,000 members of staff in the next 5 years.
 The University has continuously recruited experienced and highly qualified academic staff in various disciplines to ensure that the high quality teaching and training standards are maintained.
The University has also tapped academic talent outside Kenya to strengthen academic staff and boost exchange programmes.

“We have put in place a Staff Development Fund that has supported a number of staff pursuing Masters and PhD programmes, some of who are graduating today. One of them actually graduated recently at Gulu University, Uganda,” said Gicharu.
Gicharu said MKU staff tuition waiver has supported more than 200 beneficiaries being MKU members of staff and their spouses, children and siblings.

He said Mount Kenya University will continue setting the pace as a champion in the academic arena contributing to the provision of Competitive, high quality education, training and research in Kenya and beyond.
The academic programmes are developed and reviewed in consultation with the regulatory agencies and practitioners from the Industry to ensure they remain relevant to the industrial, commercial and market needs.
“We will continue pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships with various institutions and industries in order to produce graduates with skills well aliened to the labour market as envisioned in Kenya’s Vision 2030.

Students mentorship programmes including simulation of the world of work will be strengthened to prepare the students for the labor market when they graduate,” said Gicharu.
The chairman said MKU has continued to guard its Identity through its policies and enhanced corporate Governance structure. Recently the University approved various policies such as: Gender Policy, Disability policy, ICT policy and Teaching Practice policy among others. “ I take this early opportunity to thank the main organs of governance of this University for their individual and collective roles, which include: Board of Trustees, University Council, Senate, Management Board, School and Departmental Academic Boards and Students Governing Council,”
He added, “It is worth noting that MKU is unique by having a position of the University Pro- Chancellor and a Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Coordination of Constituent Colleges, Campuses and Centers as a way of enhancing Quality. The University council recently approved establishment of the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students Welfare, Alumni and Marketing Affairs.”

Gicharu said the University is committed to continual improvement and has reviewed its Strategic Plan July 2008-June 2018. The Strategic Plan has provision for monitoring and evaluation to ensure that strategies and objectives outlined in the plan are on course.

The aim of monitoring and evaluation is to identify the progress made towards implementation as well as identify the constraining factors hindering full implementation of the plan, bearing in mind the changing internal as well as the external environmental factors. Review of strategic plan target, among others to:

• Align guidelines with those of Commission for University Education and session paper 14 of 2012.
• Align dynamics in application of ICT to enhance efficient and quality service delivery.
• Align University research agenda with the national research agenda especially in the areas of innovation and commercialization.