Roundtable Discussion on the Future of African Higher Education: A Kenyan Perspective

Nairobi: February 8, 2024

The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) hosted the Dame Louise Richardson, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) on February 5, 2024. To mark this visit, PASGR organized a roundtable discussion on the future of African higher education (HE), focusing on the advancements and gaps in HE. The occasion was also attended by two other key leaders from the Corporation: Deana Arsenian, Vice President of International Programs, and Stephen J. Del Rosso, Senior Program Director of International Peace and Security. Also in attendance was Dr Beatrice Inyangala, PS State Department, Higher Education and Research, key stakeholders and leaders in Kenya’s Higher Education, and some members of PASGR’s Board of Directors and staff. In her remarks, Ms. Richardson expressed her excitement about her first visit to Kenya and acknowledged the vital role that educators in HE play in advancing research and excellence in higher learning institutions. She noted the shared challenges in HE that were highlighted by various stakeholders during the luncheon. She also emphasized Andrew Carnegie’s ethos of enhancing education for social mobility, economic empowerment, and international peace.

Prof. Omwenga, the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya, spoke about the university’s role in diversifying access to HE in Kenya. The university, which was chartered in 2023, focuses on affordability and flexibility, with fees being only a quarter of what mainstream universities charge. This approach aims to attract individuals with prior learning, such as certificates and diplomas, and promote inclusivity. Prof. Omwenga emphasized the university’s commitment to openness.

Prof. Narciso Matos, Chairman of PASGR’s Board of Directors and the host of the event, expressed gratitude to the participants for evaluating PASGR programs, particularly those supported by CCNY. He emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and retooling for better results. Dr Inyangala, underscored the Ministry’s continued support for HE standards and quality pedagogy in Kenya. As a former staff member at PASGR, where she led the Higher Education Programme for many years, Dr Inyangala recognized the significance of sustainability in ensuring quality education. She pledged the government’s support to PASGR in its mission to advance HE and facilitate partnerships between the Ministry, state agencies, and the HE sub-sector. These partnerships aim to bridge funding gaps and promote equitable access to education. Dr Inyangala particularly highlighted impactful developments like The Open University of Kenya, which largely benefitted from PASGR’s pedagogical capacity enhancement intervention.

Overall, there was a consensus on the positive impact of PASGR projects such as MRPP, PedaL, and the DPP, not only in Kenya but across all spheres of higher education in Africa. Prof. Karuti Kanyinga, a member of the PASGR Board of Directors who also served as the moderator of the discussions, challenged lecturers to take the lead in imparting research skills and quality training to students. Dr Pauline Ngimwa, PASGR’s Acting Executive Director, expressed gratitude to the President of the Corporation for the continued support that has played a pivotal role in driving our programmatic interventions in higher education and training. As a result, PASGR has successfully implemented the Doctoral in Public Policy (DPP) fellowship program, strengthened research capacity for early and mid-career researchers, and conducted policy research and dialogues on Kenya’s higher education.