The Commission for University Education (CUE) has started instituting quality assurance measures aimed at strengthening the quality of education offered in local universities.
They will address the underlying quality gaps in both undergraduate and graduate studies, and ensure learners are well-equipped with requisite skills for future assignments.
Speaking during the opening of a workshop for quality assurance directors in Naivasha, CUE chairman Prof Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha said universities need to have effective internal mechanisms in place to ensure that they deliver quality education.
He implored the universities to be innovative and seek for alternative sources of income, including commercialised research and donor funding to ensure adequate infrastructure and skilled workforce in their respective institutions.
"Diversification of income streams in our universities will help them manoeuvre the financial crisis currently facing the education sector," said Chacha.
He welcomed the move to review degree programmes offered by universities to ensure they offer courses that are in line with job market demands to enhance graduate employability.
He called upon universities to put in place information management systems that will enhance effective collection, storage and retrieval of students' learning history and experiences.
Prof Chacha said the move will help eradicate the problem of missing marks, which has over the years seen many students fail to graduate.
He affirmed CUE's commitment to strengthen its enforcement measures towards ensuring quality, relevant and sustainable university education.
"The Commission recognises the place of quality assurance, in ensuring that our universities provide the highest standard of education to our students", he said.
CUE Chief Executive Officer Prof Mike Kuria said lack of enough funding has affected the quality of education in local institutions and petitioned the government to boost its allocations.
Kuria urged universities to make efforts to catch up with global trends and emerging issues and technological advancements such application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IOT), ChatGPT in the learning environment.
These applications, Kuria said, will ensure universities address the surge in cases of academic fraud, plagiarism and fabricated references, vices which have tainted the quality of education and graduates locally.
