East African Universities and other institutions of higher learning in the regional member states have agreed on a uniform teaching of science subjects.
The teaching of science courses such as medicine, agriculture, engineering and basic science must conform to the uniform minimum standards.
“We have also agreed as regional universities to adhere to the published minimum standards,” said the chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Prof Francis Gichaga during the official inauguration of the institution’s campus in Arusha.
He said students pursuing programmes covered under the harmonised education system in the region were now free to transfer their credits to other institutions within the East African Community (EAC) bloc.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA), education authorities in the region have developed and established the East African Quality Assurance Framework.
“The measures introduced so far have not only improved the mobility and portability of students around the region, but also laid the foundation for improved higher education quality and improved comparability of the awards”, he said.
Moreover, harmonisation of standards will also facilitate mobility of faculty and researchers within the region, a situation that is likely to boost further regional integration.
Inaugurating the campus, the EAC deputy secretary general (Planning and Infrastructure) Dr Enos Bukuku, challenged the universities to set higher trends in higher education, research and innovation.
“We need to move from generalised research results to specific research findings targeted and particularised to relevant and appropriate technologies that would contribute to the fight against poverty,” he said.
JKUAT being an agricultural university, the EAC official stressed, should spearhead advancement in relevant agriculture research that could provide solutions for value addition in agriculture to raise incomes of farmers.
Value addition processes of agriculture products will contribute towards increased incomes and promoting trade and investment within the EAC and beyond.
The director of JKUAT Arusha Centre, Prof Ward Mavura, said the Kenyan university was registered to operate in the country by the Tanzania Commission of Universities (TCU) on March 18th last year.
It enrolled its first batch of students in July 2011, all of them for diploma and certificate courses. In September this year, it will enroll students for five degree programmes.
They are Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business Information Technology, Bachelor of Purchasing and Supplies Management, Bachelor of Development Studies and Bachelor of Entrepreneurship.
Post-graduate studies will include MSc and MBA programmes in Human Resources, Enterprising, and Procurement.
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