1. Background
The Directorate of Postgraduate Studies is mandated to review both MSc. and PhD programmes every four (4) years after the programmes have been tabled and discussed at the respective Faculty Boards. The Board undertook the reviews of the programmes on 30th November to 3rd December 2022. However, most of the programmes had not been aligned to the Commission for University Education (CUE) format.
Consequently, the Director (Directorate of Postgraduate Studies) approached the Coordinator, TAGDEV Project for financial facilitation to enable the members of the Board of Postgraduate Studies to converge at DTI, Naivasha to discuss and review all the programmes in one sitting away from the University Premises. This would minimize disruption and boost concentration towards the agenda of reviewing all the programmes.
Sixty-seven (67) MSc and forty-six (46) PhD programmes were submitted for review while twenty-four (24) for postgraduate diplomas, Masters and PhD had not been received. The total number of programmes reviewed was one hundred and two (102).
2. Funding
In April 2025, the Coordinator TAGDEV approved a budget of KSh. 432,400.50 (USD3,339) towards facilitating the workshop. The budget catered for facilitation of the board members, secretariat, driver, fuel, full board and conference facilities.
3. Transport
The Transport Department of the University allocated the team one vehicle, a fourteen- sitter van to transport members to DTI Naivasha since all the University buses were being used for students’ academic trips. However, the Director received a call from the Transport Officer on the day of travel communicating the delay of the departure time due to some transport challenges. This situation forced the directorate to source public transport.
4. Departure and Arrival
The planned departure time was 6:30 am from Egerton Main Gate but due to transport challenges it was rescheduled to 7:30 am. Some Board Members departed from Egerton University, Njoro on Thursday, 10th April 2024 at 7:50 am while other members were picked along the way. The team arrived at DTI, Naivasha at 10:00 am.
5. Discussion and Review of the Postgraduates Programmes
5.1 Opening Session
On arrival, members converged in the conference room called ANGONI that DTI had allocated to the team for a briefing session by the Director, Postgraduate Studies. The Director gave his opening remarks and welcomed the members to the workshop. The Deputy Director Graduate School, made a presentation by using Master of Science in Horticulture programme to illustrate to the board on how to review the programs. The members discussed and agreed on all sections to be amended. Three groups each with a team leader were formed based on faculties/Institute/Directorate as follows:
Group A: Team Leader: Dr. Raphael M Gacheiya
- Arts and Social Sciences.
- Education and Community Studies.
- Commerce.
- Institute of Gender Women and Development Studies.
- Director, Postgraduate Studies.
Group B: Team Leader: Dr. Anyango Joseph
- Agriculture.
- Health Sciences.
- Veterinary Medicine
- Deputy Director, Quality assurance.
Group C: Team Leader: Dr. Philip Bett
- Environment and Resource Development.
- Engineering.
- Science.
- Deputy Director, Postgraduate Studies.
5.2 Presentation of the “Format for Designing Academic Programmes by CUE”
The Deputy Director, Graduate School made a presentation of the “Guidelines for Designing Academic Programmes by CUE” which members would use while reviewing the programmes. It was noted that the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies was to give direction, corrections, and areas for improvement, capture the areas that needed to be included in the programmes and general guidance. It was agreed that the Chairs of Departments would effect the corrections and changes and send the programmes back to the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies for forwarding for type setting and publishing.
5.3 Programmes Discussed and Reviewed on Day One of the Workshop
Sixteen (16) programmes were discussed and reviewed during the first day of the workshop. These programmes were:
- Master of Arts in Gender, Women and Development Studies.
- Master of Science in Agribusiness Management.
- Master of Science in Plant Breeding.
- Master of Human Resource Management.
- Master of Science (Community Studies and Extension).
- Master of Science in Horticulture.
- Master of Science in Food Science.
- Master of Science in Agricultural Economics.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Management.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Literature.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Gender, Women and Development Studies.
- Doctor of Philosophy in English Language and Linguistics.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Agribusiness Management.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Dryland Agriculture and Resource Management.
5.4 Programmes Discussed and Reviewed on Day Two and Day Three of the Workshop
During the second and third days of the workshop members were able to review ninety seven (97) programmes. This was possible because members had learned and became familiar with the review process.
1. Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural and Rural Innovation)
2. Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural Education)
3. Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural Extension)
4. Doctor of Philosophy (Community Studies and Extension)
5. Doctor of Philosophy (Curriculum and Instruction)
6. Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Foundations)
7. Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Management)
8. Doctor of Philosophy (Science Education)
9. Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics
10. Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Engineering
11. Doctor of Philosophy in Agronomy
12. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics
13. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematics
14. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry
15. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
16. Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Protection
17. Doctor of Philosophy in Dryland Resources Management
18. Doctor of Philosophy in Economics
19. Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Occupational Health
20. Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science
21. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science
22. Doctor of Philosophy in Geography
23. Doctor of Philosophy in Kiswahili
24. Doctor of Philosophy in Limnology
25. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Parasitology
26. Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources Management
27. Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Sciences.
28. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
29. Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Biotechnology
30. Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding
31. Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Pathology
32. Doctor of Philosophy in Pure Mathematics
33. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil and Water Engineering
34. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science
35. Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics
36. Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Management
37. Doctor of Philosophy in Water Resources and Environmental Management
38. Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Physiology
39. Master of Research and Public Policy
40. Master of Science in Limnology
41. Masters in Measurement and Evaluation
42. Master Science (Counselling Psychology)
43. Master Programme in Limnology and Wetland Management (Joint Degree)
44. Master of Science in Soil Sciences
45. Master of Science in Soil and Water Engineering;
46. Master of Science in Pure Mathematics
47. Master of Science in Plant Pathology
48. Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology
49. Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology
50. Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences.
51. Master of Science in Natural Resources Management
52. Master of Science in Medical Parasitology
53. Master of Science in Environmental Science
54. Master of Science in Environmental and Occupational Health
55. Master of Science in Dryland Farming
56. Master of Science in Crop Protection
57. Master of Science in Computer Science
58. Master of Science in Chemistry
59. Master of Science in Biochemistry
60. Master of Science in Animal Physiology
61. Master of Science in Agronomy
62. Master of Science in Agri-Enterprise Development
63. Master of Science in Agricultural Information and Communication Management
64. Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering;
65. Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics (CMAAE)
66. Master of Science (Agricultural Extension)
67. Master of Science (Agricultural Education)
68. Master of Journalism and Mass Communication
69. Master of Information Science
70. Master of Education (Guidance and Counselling)
71. Master of Education (Educational Management)
72. Master of Education (Educational Foundations)
73. Master of Education (Curriculum and Instruction)
74. Master of Business Administration.
75. Master of Arts in Urban Management
76. Master of Arts in Security Management
77. Master of Arts in Sociology
78. Master of Arts in Literature
79. Master of Arts in Kiswahili
80. Master of Arts in English Language and Linguistics
81. Master of Arts in Economics
82. Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice
83. Master of Arts (Guidance and Counselling)
84. Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental and Sustainable Development
85. Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental and Social Sciences Research Methods
86. Postgraduate Diploma in Education
87. Masters of Agricultural Engineering
88. Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Management
89. Master of Science in Statistics
90. Master of Science in Physics
91. Master of Science in Engineering Systems and Management
92. Master of Science in Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems
93. Master of Science in Applied Mathematics
94. Master of Information Systems
95. Master of Education (Science Education)
96. MA/MSc in Geography
97. Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health, Epidemiology and Animal Health Economics
5.5 Programmes Not Submitted and Not Reviewed.
There were twenty four (24) programmes which had not been submitted as follows:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics Education)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Philosophy)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science
- Doctor of Philosophy in History
- Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Entomology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Peace
- Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies
- Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling Psychology)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Psychology)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Guidance and Counselling)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Probation Practice and Correctional Studies
- Postgraduate Diploma in Gender, Poverty and Development
- Master of Science in Library & Information Science
- Master of Science in Natural Resources and Peace
- Master of Science in Livestock Production Systems
- Master of Science in Dryland Resources Management
- Master of Science in Dryland Agro-Pastoral Systems
- Master of Science in Animal Nutrition
- Master of Science in Animal Breeding and Genetics
- Master of Knowledge Management
- Master of Arts in Religious Studies
- Master of Arts in Philosophy
- Master of Arts in History
- Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics
6. Challenges
The second and third days of the workshop on 11th and 12th April, 2024, the members experienced internet challenges. Some of the programmes had not been aligned to the CUE guidelines. There was a delay in submission of the programmes from departments.
7. Recommendations
The programmes with track changes would be sent to the departments for the CODs to effect the changes and send them back to Directorate of Postgraduate Studies with a set timeframe. A schedule to be prepared and shared with the faculties for a dateline to make corrections and finalize the programmes.
Discussed and Agreed That:
- Most programmes were at the same level of revision and should not take long for the departments to effect the corrections. Faculty representative to make a follow up on the programmes not submitted.
- The programmes pending would be done by Faculty Representatives.
- The Directorate of Postgraduate Studies to make a backup folder with track changes and another with changes accepted for proper follow up.
- Directorate of Postgraduate Studies, communicated to all CODs via a written memo attaching reviewed programmes with track changes with a deadline of 12th May, 2025.
- After receiving all the corrected programmes from departments, a draft catalogue would be developed and thereafter it would be sent for proofreading.
8. Conclusion
We are very grateful to TAGDEV for the valuable support that enabled the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies to discuss and review the one hundred and two (102) postgraduate programmes. We also thank the Board members who worked with dedication and commitment during the programmes review process.