Colleges, varsities to break degrees links

Colleges will no longer offer degrees in collaboration with universities, a regulator has said.

The Commission for University Education said the two institutions have until next month to end the partnership.

The move follows the coming into effect last year of new universities regulations set up in 2013.

The institutions were given one year, from June 2014, to streamline them.

Commission chief executive David Some said this was designed to ensure that degrees offered meet standards.

Prof Some said the commission would focus on universities and another authority on colleges.

He told the Nation that from next month no local university would be allowed to collaborate with a foreign one in offering academic courses without the commission’s authority.

According to the regulations, foreign colleges are now required to apply for accreditation as private universities, and have to prepare annual and five-year self-assessment reports on the steps taken to achieve the objectives for which they were established.

According to the law, the commission is mandated to accredit all foreign universities intending to offer degrees in the country.

Prof Some said foreign universities or student recruitment agencies should seek the authority of the commission to continue with their work.

“Any person who disobeys these regulations will be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh1 million,” said Prof Some.

According to an economic survey report released on Wednesday last week, university enrolment rose by 22.8 per cent, from 361,379 in 2013 to 443,783 in 2014.

On Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said the decision by his ministry to stop universities from offering diploma and certificate courses was aimed at ensuring that they focus on research.

He spoke during the fifth East Africa Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum.