President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday challenged universities to change their approach to the delivery of higher education, so as to cope with the market demands.
Uhuru said the next phase in the development of the country’s institutions of higher learning should shift focus to university education that is more responsive to a dynamic global economy.
"This is because, in an increasingly globalized employment and entrepreneurship landscape, our children are no longer merely competing with their fellow citizens here in Kenya but actually with learners from across the world," he said.
Uhuru spoke at Kakamega State Lodge where he awarded charters to eight institutions of higher learning elevating them into fully-fledged universities.
The eight institutions located in eight counties include Kaimosi Friends University (Vihiga), Alupe University (Busia), Tom Mboya University (Homa Bay), Tharaka University (Tharaka Nithi), (Lukenya University (Makueni), Zetech University (Kiambu), Kiriri Women’s University of Science and Technology (Nairobi) and the East African University (Kajiado).
Uhuru challenged the institutions to innovate, to remain relevant in the increasingly competitive global market.
"In today’s world, knowledge and innovation are increasingly becoming life’s key differentiators in determining success. It is for this reason that our investment in university education has been targeted to enhance access to relevant and marketable courses that will herald a new era of innovation; thereby propelling our country to higher levels of economic and social development."
Uhuru also urged universities and institutions of higher learning to streamline their activities to prevent corruption in their issuance of degree certificates.
He noted that corruption does not only erode the reputation of the Kenyan education system but it also undermines the confidence of young graduates in the job market.
"We want to combat corruption and corruption is not only the theft of public funds but it is also the theft of degrees that are handed over to unqualified people."
He pointed out that it should be the cardinal duty of university administration to ensure only diligent students earn the certificates from their hard work.
President Uhuru also spoke against ethnicity in the institutions.
"Our Universities should be open, not just to people from our backyard but to all Kenyans and indeed even to international students," he said.
Uhuru said his administration has been keen on transforming Kenya’s education landscape.
He said he has done this by implementing various programs and projects to boost transition rates and give Kenyan students a comparative advantage in the global market.
"During my tenure in office, my administration has allocated more than Sh4 trillion to the sector to fund primary, secondary and university education, the Teachers Service Commission and Vocational and Technical Training," he said.
Uhuru noted that since 2013, the number of tertiary institutions has increased from 52 to 238.
"We have not only done this by giving institutions full autonomy, as we are doing here today but also by selecting a few specialized institutions to address matters of national importance such as we did with the National Defence University."
President Uhuru said the Competency-Based Education transformation in the education sector is on course.
"Through the CBC that is now underway in the lower levels, we are permitting our young learners to determine from an early stage their area of specialization."
Present were Education CS George Magoha, Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo among other senior Government officials.
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