United States International University Balancing Tension between Local Needs and International Trends An African Perspective

Where is Kenya?

Where is USIU located?

Overview Local Needs Demand for higher education greater than available resources International Trends Expansion of markets Tensions Quality Human resources Technology & distance learning Relevancy National development or market-driven Curriculum design Access Increasing costs The Balance Government policies Partnerships Expectations

198,356 high school students graduated 42,721 met the entry requirements of the public universities 10,872 were admitted This represents 5% of the total school leavers and 25% of those admissible to public universities (Nation, September 17, 2003) Local Needs

Government Strategies to Meet Growing Demands Increase number of public universities Increase student intakes Encourage formation of private universities

Public Universities One public university with 2786 students Largest first year intake – 20,837 Six public universities with 41,825 students Private Universities One private university with 5 students Private universities begin to experience major growth Five chartered private universities with 6920 students

Higher Education Public Universities 6 public universities 3,200 full-time faculty 44,000 students in regular programs Estimated 33,000 in parallel (private) degree programs Private Universities 6 chartered private universities; 10 awaiting charters 200 full-time faculty 9,340 students 21% of market share of regular programs 49% of market share when combined with parallel programs

USIU Enrollments (1986 to 2003)

International Trends

Expanding Markets International Recruitment National recruitment policies and marketing campaigns in Japan, Canada and Australia Britain has 8 million dollar recruitment campaign to recruit 75,000 international students German universities formed a consortium to recruit students from Europe and Latin America Australian government promotes its 39 universities 11 billion dollars spent annually in the US by international students (Halliday, 1999)

African Market Two African nations among top 30 with students leaving their countries to attend universities in the US: Kenya (20) - 6,229 Nigeria (28) - 3,820 An estimated 30,000 Kenyan students enroll in foreign universities

National expansion “Income generation” Projected income from 33,000 parallel students- US$44,102,730

A Perfect Match?

Tension: Human Resources Brain Strain Multiple teaching loads at different institutions Use of local faculty to support distance learning programs and foreign campuses

Human Resources Remuneration Assistant Professor Median = US$975 Associate Professor Median = US$1098 Professor Median = US$1,200

Information Technology & Distance Learning Tariffs for Internet bandwidth: 1024kbps – US$ 6750 Infrastructure limitations Max 512 kbps over telephone line – copper wires Content development- faculty need training

Information Technology & Distance Learning Telephone access is per minute: average cost for student is $475 for term Hardware – most students cannot afford computers- USIU has 1,400 lab users/ 2700 students Most distance learning is paper based!

Relevant Academic Programming “ Education for the development of the nation” 1960’s tertiary education built on British model …support civil service Need for technical education Kenya is consistent with common global pattern of 2/3’s studying humanities and 1/3 studying sciences Private universities encouraged to introduce more science based programs in applied sciences

Market driven Undergraduate Business Administration1196 Information Systems and Technology 354 International Relations 290 Hotel Restaurant & Tourism Management 161 Psychology 129 Journalism 104 Master’s MBA/MIBA 263 Counseling Psychology 61 International Relations 43

Relevant Academic Programming Curriculum Design National and /or multinational approach

Access Real average earnings in the modern sector was KSH171, per annum in 2002 or US$ 2195 per year. (Economic Survey 2003)

Access: Tuition

USIU/Alliant MBA Tuition Comparisons-2002/03 Institution MBA Tuition 2 semesters USIU, Nairobi$1,395 University of Nairobi$1,423 Alliant Int’l University, San Diego $12,420

Balancing

Government Policies-Universities Act Commission for Higher Education (CHE) Established 1985 to: Promote university education Accredit universities Coordinate long term planning, scholarship and physical development Approve courses of study Provide central admission services to public universities Inspect public universities Proposed Revised Universities Act Oversight of campuses of foreign universities and distance learning programs to assure quality.

Government Policies on Local Expansion

Partnerships KENET INASP –Library consortium CHE Private Universities Vice Chancellor’s Committee Inter University Council of Eastern Africa Other Institutions

United States International University Balancing Expectations Anecdotal Story