- KIMC Higher diploma graduates are required to study for an undergraduate course to earn a degree.
- Just like, KMTC, KIMC is a state-owned parastatal with a board that is appointed by the ICT cabinet secretary.
Image: Courtesy
Outgoing Trade and Industrialisation Chief Administrative secretary David Osiany has called for the upgrade of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication Higher National Diploma into a degree level status.
This comes shortly after the Kenya National Qualifications Authority recognised the Kenya Medical Training College higher diploma as an equivalent of a bachelors' degree.
The KNQA moved the ranking of the KMTC higher diploma to level 7-automatically allowing higher diploma graduates from the medical institution to be recognised as degree holders.
“I am in agreement about the accreditation and acknowledgement of KMTC's Higher National Diploma as a degree equivalent. The next one should be Kenya Institute of Mass Communication(KMTC),” Osiany said.
The outgoing CAS who served in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration tweeted that the quality of graduates from KIMC and KMTC "is incredibly great".
I’m in agreement about the accreditation and acknowledgment of KMTC’s Higher National Diploma as a degree equivalent. The next one should be Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). The quality of graduates from both schools is incredibly great!
— 🇰🇪 David Osiany, HSC (@DavidOsiany) October 30, 2022
KIMC is a state-owned institute that offers both certificate, diploma and higher diplomas in journalism and mass communication-related courses including Film and Video Production.
While KIMC offers a rigorous three-year training programme for diploma students, its higher diploma graduates are required to study for an undergraduate course to earn a degree.
This means that a KIMC student who starts starts a diploma programme would take up to nine years of study to earn a degree given that they need two years for a higher diploma and four more years for a degree course.
If the KNQA upgrades the KIMC Higher National Diploma to a degree status, then it would be good news for thousands of KIMC graduates who have to take the longest and expensive route to earn degrees.
Just like, KMTC, KIMC is a state-owned parastatal with a board that is appointed by the ICT cabinet secretary.
Majority of the country journalism pioneers are graduates from KIMC with majority with diplomas and Higher National Diplomas.
The Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) was established in 1961 and was named as the then Voice of Kenya Training School.
Its main purpose was to train electronic engineering and technicians for the then, Kenya Broadcasting Service (KBS).
KIMC was however, later re-branded in 1962 as the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). KBC was then nationalized in 1964, and changed its brand to Voice of Kenya (VOK).
Nationalization occasioned the departure of expatriates who worked at the broadcaster, creating an urgent need for qualified manpower to fill the vacant positions.
In 1965, the new Voice of Kenya acquired a grant to start what became to be known as the Voice of Kenya Training School.
The institution was also to serve the Ministry of Information which equally lacked qualified journalists, program producers, announcers and other cadre relevant in the field of mass communication.
Training programs started from a humble wooden structure near the Kenyatta National Hospital.
During the 1967/68 financial year the institute was funded to construct mass Media Communication Training institute in South – B Area (Mariakani) and the Institute named Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.