Scandal highlights need for business links

The disclosure that more than two dozen Kenyan universities have been offering unapproved degree courses is likely to affect the careers of tens of thousands students, experts said, but it elicited a public cry for a clear strategy to develop strong links between education and the private industry.

The Commission for University Education last month revealed that 26 universities were offering 133 degree courses which were not approved by the government. In an audit report, the commission rejected the programs, which have an overall enrollment potential of 10,000 students, and accused the institutions of offering duplicate programs or programs that were above their capacities in resources and teaching staff.

The regulator is mandated to approve all university programs and ensure maintenance of standards, quality and relevance in all aspects of university education. Despite an assurance that this was a "normal finding", experts are calling for increased participation of the business community in higher education to validate the quality of programs.