Mount Kenya University has become the first private university to receive accreditation from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority.
The institution is among four that have been granted accreditation, with the others being state-run institutions of higher learning.
Other entities awarded are the National Industrial Training Authority, Bandari Maritime Academy and Meru University of Science and Technology. The latter is the first institution in the public university category.
MKU is also the first private university to register its national qualifications in the KNQA's framework. Out of the total 728 accreditation certificates, it received 198.
“As a university, we are happy to be among the four institutions that are today receiving certificates of accreditations and recognition of registration of national qualifications into the Kenya National Qualifications Framework,” MKU vice chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi said when the university received the accreditation on Friday.
He added that the university is keen on reducing inequalities in society, which is in line with the aspirations of the KNQA.
The authority through the Kenya National Qualifications Handbook (2018) aims at empowering individuals through the creation and maintenance of an integrated framework for learning achievements.
The university has recently been designated as a centre for reducing inequalities by a United Nations agency for its notable work in the area.
“The contents on the handbook resonate well with MKU’s newly bestowed status of serving as the United Nations Academic Impact SDG 10 Hub on Reduced Inequalities between June 2021 and May 2024,” he said.
Speaking during a ceremony to award the certificates to the four institutions, KNQA chairperson Kilemi Mwiria said the move will help rid the country of fake certificates.
Mwiria said among other plans, KNQA will establish the learning curve of students and offer verification of their qualifications through the National Qualification Information Management System.
“NAQIMS has automated the process of accreditation and registration of national qualifications countrywide,” Mwiria said.
However, he said, some institutions are yet to register their national qualifications with the authority. This, he noted, reflects non-compliance with the law.
Education CAS Hassan Noor Hassan said having a database of national qualifications of learners will go a long way in reducing cases of forged certificates.
Labour and Social Protection CS Simon Chelugui said a rapid increase in demand for education and training without a corresponding increase in infrastructural and structural skills undermines the quality of graduates supplied to the labour market.
“Accreditation will solve challenges that have caused confusion in the labour market, especially during hiring and determinations. These include the availability of multiple certificates from multiple training institutions,” Chelugui said.
“The majority of youth possess various qualifications. Without a framework of qualification, an employer would never know if the qualifications are genuine or not, hence disadvantaging the youth in employment.”
“Training providers should never lose sight of the industry needs when designing training programmes,” he said.
-Edited by SKanyara