Kenya PhD Project

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 4, seeks to “Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”. It further states “Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.” The Kenya PhD Project is greatly anchored on these noble principles of lifelong learning; importance of access to quality learning; and development of human capacity to full self-actualization.

 

Kenya is a third world country in the East African Region. Kenya’s Commission for University Education (CUE) appointment and promotions guidelines spell out a requirement for a doctorate degree as a minimum academic qualification for a lecturer. However, current statics and related information on doctoral holders in Kenya make it impossible for this edict to be followed:

 

• Over 57% of Kenyan lecturers do not have PhD qualifications;

• Many who hold such qualifications take up administrative positions in the university structure;

• PhD graduates in Kenyan Universities are few and seem to be largely in their 50’s and 60’s;

• Government and industry requirement for PhDs reduces the number available for lectureship; and

• The cost of PhD education in Kenya is prohibitive, aside from challenges of academic supervision

 

It is therefore crucial and imperative that Kenyans, who qualify, take up any globally available opportunities for PhD education to meet these inadequacies. 

 

From many international ranking bodies, USA is the de facto leader in university academic quality and opportunities. USA boosts of thousands of PhD programmes across its numerous universities. Further, PhD education in USA comes with tuition funding; funding for research and attendance to conferences; generous stipends and medical insurance.

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The Kenya PhD Project will bring Potential Kenyan Students and USA Funded Opportunities together.

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Andrew pursued a Bachelor of Education degree at Kenyatta University, Kenya; a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Information Systems at University of Nairobi, Kenya. He conducted his Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science Research at Free University of Brussels, Belgium and at University of Paderborn, Germany. He completed his Master of Business Administration degree at St. John's University in USA, and is currently conducting Research in Higher Education Administration and Supervision at Doctoral Level. 

 

Mungai has been a senior university administrator and lecturer since 1998 and has rendered wide-ranging consultancy in ICT and higher education: first as an Information Technology Expert and Assistant Lecturer at the University of Nairobi; then as Director of ICT at Kenyatta University; then as Dean of School of Computer Science, Senior Lecturer and Director of ICT at the Presbyterian University of East Africa; and then as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Senior Lecturer and Director of ICT at The East African University. He has been a Graduate Research Assistant at St. John's University since August 2016.

 

At national Level, his contributions range from founding new universities; creating scholarship opportunities for students; developing curricula across universities; and inspecting universities for accreditation on behalf of the Commission for University Education. He also successfully proposed and petitioned the Government of Kenya to post sponsored undergraduate students to Private Universities.

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Andrew has received numerous merit-based academic awards and honors including:

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• St. John's University Doctor of Education Fellowship;

• St. John’s University MBA Graduate Research Assistantship;

• Computer Aid International Sponsorship for Proof of Concept visit to Worcester University, UK;

• German Education Exchange Service (DAAD) Ph.D. Research Scholar;

• Belgian Consortium of Flemish Universities (VLIR) Ph.D. Research Scholar;

• Visiting Research Assistant, University of Paderborn, Germany;

• Visiting Research Assistant, Free University of Brussels, Belgium;

• VLIR M.Sc. (Information Systems) Scholarship;

• Professional Course Scholarship to Global College in London, UK;

• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Professional Course Scholarship to Okinawa;

• Data Centre Prize for Best Computer Science Postgraduate Student; and

• GoK HELB Undergraduate Bursary.

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He was also nominated for "Best ICT Educator Award in Africa" in 2008 for his work at Kenyatta University.

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