University Academic & Social Support

to Students with Difficulties: Insights

from Moi University, Kenya

Prof. Bob Wishitemi

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research &

Extension)

Paper presented at IAU Conference, 16th – 18th

Nov 2011, Safari Park Hotel (Nbi), Kenya

Higher Education in Kenya: A context

• Higher Education in Kenya, like in other African countries is a recent phenomenon

• HE has expanded rapidly from one public university in 1970 to current 7

• New public universities are being created

• Diverse implications for HE in different contexts

• Varied manifestations/developments in Africa

• Africa responds in ways peculiar to its circumstances

• Role of Africa's HEIs in social, economic, Pol. Dev.

• Ability to change/induce change in society

• New opportunities, attendant risks & challenges - How do we grapple/respond?

Knowledge vs Vision 2030

Kenya’s Vision 2030 seeks to transform the country

into a Newly Industrialized Country (NIC) by the year

2030. Knowledge has been identified as the driver

of Kenya’s Vision 2030

KNOWLEDGE (EDUCATION}

Challenges

• the failure of the HE system to stimulate industrialization,

accelerate sustained economic growth and reduce over

reliance on agriculture;

• apparent lack of innovation and creativity among the

graduates of the HE system; and

• inability of the country to respond to economic, social,

political and natural shocks, including disasters attributed to

climate change.

• Weak institutional capacities-Research/human capacity/ Curricular innovations

• Declining funding

• Governance challenges

• Quality and diversity of academic programs

• Unequal access at all levels

The challenge of Access to HE

• Increasing demand for higher education About 50,000 students miss university places annually- will increase to 160,000 by 2015

• Socio-economic factors e.g. deepening of poverty

• Rising cost of living (HE more expensive)

• Family backgrounds of learners & inadequate safety nets for disadvantages students

• Maintaining quality, ensuring equity & affordability

The challenge of Access to HE

• Overstretched loan scheme-HELB & lack of diversification of funding mechanisms

• Exclusionary practices

• Regional disparities

• Early marriages

• The impacts of HIV/AIDS

• Government making steps to expand higher education to provide more access

• More financial support to the loans board

Insights from Moi University

MOI UNIVERSITY ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED

Insights from Moi University

Background

• Moi University was established in 1984 as

second university in Kenya

• Objective of establishment

was to expand access after

demand exceeded capacity

of University of Nairobi.

• Student

population has

grown from 83

to 28,000

within 25 Yrs!

Insights from Moi University

Background

• Located in a rural set up in Eldoret,

340 Kms from Nairobi

• A comprehensive university with

diversity of academic programs

ranging from Medicine,

Engineering, Arts, Humanities,

Business, Aerospace Sciences,

Information Sciences etc

• Currently there are 13 Schools in

total

Unique Programmes

Aerospace Sciences

Textile Engineering

Telecommunications

Engineering

Chemical and

Process Engineering

Telemedicine

Support to students with financial

difficulties

• HELB

• Financial support programs such as Rattansi

• Work study programs to enable poor students

get income to supplement their resources

• Fees waiver to students in dire need

• Fund raising by university community to aid

disadvantaged students

• Support to refugee students

(Currently there are 38 refugee

students from neighboring countries)

The role of IGERD

• Established in 2003 to promote gender

development in the university

• Advocates and promotes gender equity

through affirmative action

• Promotes development of gender policies

• Promotes education of ‘the girl child’

Work study programs

• The university has established work study

programs to support needy students

• These are tenable within the library, catering

services, specialized labs and extension

projects

• This enables students to earn additional

income

• Supplement their needs and

learning costs

University links with industry/ private

sector

• Links between University and private sector

can play an important role in supporting

disadvantaged students

• The university has created links and

collaborations with companies and industries

for mutual benefit.

• Some include support to students

e.g links with Safaricom, Bamburi

cement, e.t.c.

Career advisory centre

• The university has establishes a career advisory

centre

–Professional talks

–Advice to students on placements

– Internships

–Liaison with prospective employers

–Priority to students with dire needs

(financial)

Support to students with

disabilities/physically challenged

• Collaborations with the Kenya Society for the blind

• To develop programmes for special needs in education

• Supportive facilities e.g. Braille, special computers e.t.c

• Infrastructure (Buildings have been modified to

accommodate physically challenged.

• Inclusive nature of curriculum – No discrimination

• Uphold the philosophy that disability is not inability

• University recognizes the fact that they have

potential and goals to achieve.

Distribution of Moi University Colleges & Campuses Providing more

opportunities…

Taking Education to the

people!

• ICT Inter-campus Connectivity

Providing more opportunities…

• E-Library (Sharing of e-resources)

Providing more

opportunities…

• E-Learning Platform

– Marginally disadvantaged students can easily access

content without having to incur much costs

Providing more

opportunities…

Providing more opportunities through

PSSP programs

• Most universities in Kenya have established the

Privately Sponsored Students Program

• It opens up opportunities for access to students who

would have otherwise missed university education.

• Currently about 15,000 students are enrolled within

this program at Moi University

• Funds generated from this program are used to

develop infrastructure within the university

• Part of it is ploughed back for the welfare

of the students

Extension and outreach programs

• Moi University is a rural based institution

• It has strong outreach and extension services

• Most university projects involve the community

• The Ampath project…

• VLIR Project

• Community Based Medical training.

• Legal aid clinics

• All these provide opportunities for students to gain

more learning opportunities

• Some of these projects such as Ampath and VLIR

support students through training opportunities

RIVATEX

University encourages entrepreneurship for technology transfer through outreach programmes such as Rivatex East Africa Ltd

The factory provides practical training to students

Employment to the community and promotion of agricultural development in the cotton industry

Research opportunities to staff and partners

Providing an enabling learning

environment

• Building capacities of learners to enable them

succeed

• Provision of support facilities e.g health facilities

• Support to learners with challenges and special

needs

• Attract and reward talented staff

• Problem- based learning engages learners to solve

real-life issues – This assists learners to

share knowledge – those with disabilities

are able to learn from their colleagues

CONCLUSION – Way Forward

• Need for government to formulate policies that

guarantee the establishment of centers of

excellence in institutions of higher learning

• Promote ‘self-paced’ learning

• Develop Institutional mechanisms to support

needy/disadvantaged students

• Admission policies should articulate criteria for

attracting disadvantaged students

CONCLUSION - No more exclusion

We have to respond

Provide oportunities/mitigate risks

Not a time for more isolation!

THANK

YOU