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Re-inventing Kenya’s university: From a “Graduate-mill” to a development-oriented paradigm

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  • Chege, By Mwangi

Abstract

Kenya’s university sector has experienced tremendous growth, particularly during the Kibaki administration, the third Kenyan president (2003–2014). This numerical growth in institutions and student enrollment applies to both public and private universities. During the same period, the government embarked on vision 2030, a blue print designed to propel the country into a middle income status by 2030. Cognizant of the global shift to knowledge economy, the government underscored the important role higher education needs to play to achieve those development goals. However, this growth has been characterized by a myriad of challenges. By analyzing published research on education and development, this paper interrogates implications of the exponential expansion of Kenya’s university, the “graduate-mill” approach, to the country’s development goals and proposes reforms required to re-invent the sector so that it can play its envisioned role in national development.

Suggested Citation

  • Chege, By Mwangi, 2015. "Re-inventing Kenya’s university: From a “Graduate-mill” to a development-oriented paradigm," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 21-27.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:44:y:2015:i:c:p:21-27
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.07.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mwangi S. Kimenyi & Germano Mwabu & Damiano Kulundu Manda, 2006. "Human Capital Externalities and Private Returns to Education in Kenya," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 32(3), pages 493-513, Summer.
    2. Mwangi S. Kimenyi, 2011. "Contribution of Higher Education to Economic Development: A Survey of International Evidence," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 20(suppl_3), pages -49, August.
    3. Psacharopoulos, George, 1994. "Returns to investment in education: A global update," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 22(9), pages 1325-1343, September.
    4. Benhabib, Jess & Spiegel, Mark M., 1994. "The role of human capital in economic development evidence from aggregate cross-country data," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 143-173, October.
    5. Page, John M., 1994. "The East Asian miracle: An introduction," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 615-625, April.
    6. Oketch, Moses O., 2006. "Determinants of human capital formation and economic growth of African countries," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 554-564, October.
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