By Dr' Daniel Tuitoek,

1
Challenges in Establsihing a Private Unviversity
Case Study Kabarak University.

• By Dr. Daniel Tuitoek,
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor,
• Kabarak University.
• Regional Eastern Africa Conference on Quality
  Assurance in Higher Education.

2
Why Private Universities?

• Over 60,000 students ? meet the requirements to
  enter University each year.
• Public universities ( 6 in number) can only
• admit about 10,000 each year.
• Private Universities admit another 10,000

3
Difference between a Public and a Private
Universirty.

• Public Universities are created through acts of
  parliaments.
• Private Universities are established through a
  Commission of Higher Education.
• Public Universities receive government
  sponsorship while Private Universities do not

4
Kabarak University

• Estasblished in the year 2000
• Located in the Rift Valley near Nakuru Town, 10
  km from Equator.
• Current Student Numbers are about 780.
• Flagship Programmes are degrees in Business and
  Computer studies.
• Other degree programmes are in the sciences

5
Lecture halls and Offices
6
Kabarak University Chapel
7
Establishing a Private University

• Commission for Higher Education (CHE) Guidelines
• Vision and Mission
• Sponsorship
• Academic programmes
• Governance
• Physical Facilities including a Library
• Finance

8
Status of Private Universities

• Registered Universities
• These are universities established before the
  establishment of CHE. They do not have full
  accreditation from CHE.
• Interim Authority
• These are universities which are still
  developing structures and Human. They do not have
  full 43accreditation from CHE
• Chartered Universities
• These are universities that have fully developed
  facilities and adequate human resource and have
  full accreditation from CHE.

9
Attracting Students and Faculty

• Average grades C to B
• Mostly self sponsored
• Ony students in chartered universities may
  receive loans from the government
• Private universities initially attract low
  numbers of students
• Young faculty

10
Curricula and Quality Assurance

• New Programmes need review and approval by
  Commission for High Education (CHE) approval
• Teaching and Examination Processes controlled by
  senate through academic standards and quality
  committee (ASQC)
• External Examiners are part of the examination
  process
• Course Lecturers appraisal by Students

11
Funding a Private University

• Tuition Fees
• Income generating activities e.g farm, business
  investments, seminars and conferences
• Contract research by lecturers
• Sponsor(s)
• Donor (s) support

12
Challenges in Establishing a Private University

• Setting up infrastructure
• Public Utilities eg roads, sewerage and
  electricity
• Library
• ICT
• Developing New Curricula
• Recruitment of staff and Students
• Governance Issues

13
Challenges in Establishing a Private University

• High Tuition Fees
• Limited student Scholarship and Support
• Staff salaries and benefits
• Revenue base
• CHE requirements e.g 50 acres of land
• Slow feed back concerning approval of new
  programmes by CHE- on average 1 yr to get a
  program through CHE.

14
Way Forward For Private Universities

• CHE improves feed back concerning approving of
  new programmes.
• Government support in setting up infrastructure
  e.g roads, sewerage, ICT and electricity
• Loans to all students in private universities
  from Higher Education Loan Board (HELB)
• Government to review taxation on ICT and capital
  investments by private universities.