University of Embu: How We Became Kenya’s Best Performing State Corporation
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Embu, Prof Daniel Mugendi, has attributed the institution’s ranking as the best-performing state corporation in the 2021/22 financial year performance contracting evaluation to the robust teamwork in the university.
The university, which started as Embu Agricultural Training College, was previously ranked the best performing state corporation in the 2019/20 financial year performance contracting evaluation and second runners up in the 2020/21 financial year performance contracting evaluation.
Mugendi noted that the university cascades targets from junior employees to the highest management of the university and employs strict coordination and monitoring to ensure that every employee meets their targets. He further said that despite the institution facing its own challenges, it always benchmarks from other best-performing institutions in order to avoid making management mistakes.
The university also performed very well in financial stewardship in terms of payment of pending bills, generation of university incomes and payment of staff. It was rated highly among all universities in Kenya in service delivery, Commission for Administrative Justice (CAJ).
In addition, the university plans to stay at the top as the best performing state corporation by enforcing thorough supervision, monitoring and helping those who don’t meet their targets to meet them.
The VC also called on the Government to inject more funds to universities so that they can operate optimally. Mugendi noted that public universities have been getting the same capitation year in year out for the last 6 years. He called on the Government to review the KES 16,000 tuition fee that was set in 1989 to at least go up slightly so that it can support the operations of universities.
He disclosed that the biggest challenge facing universities is the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), saying that when it’s negotiated, the Government only gives the arrears and does not fund the CBAs going forward.
Mugendi said the huge funding gap that is being experienced in the public universities can only be addressed by the government increasing the funding of public universities. He said that universities have been receiving the same amount of money that they have been receiving since 2017/18, which he pointed out to be the biggest challenge affecting the operations of public universities.
University of Embu: How We Became Kenya’s Best Performing State Corporation
The VC also called on the Government to place all students who scored C+ and above in public universities as a way of strengthening the institutions so that the money coming from the Government can go to sponsor those students placed in public universities as compared to private universities.
The University of Embu Director Performance Contracting and ISO Implementation, Kirema Nganata, said the university was rated the best among all public universities in the implementation of the universities co-mandate in training, research and extension work or community service.
In his call for increased funding to public universities, Prof Mugendi emphasized the importance of university education in the development of the country. He said that universities play a critical role in producing skilled human resources that drive economic growth and development.
He further stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of technology in education, and that universities need to invest in technology and innovation to remain relevant in the digital age.
The University of Embu has already taken steps towards this by launching an e-learning platform that allows students to access course materials online. The platform also facilitates online discussions and interactions between students and lecturers.
The Vice-Chancellor also pointed out that the university has been able to maintain its high performance despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the university was able to adapt quickly to the new normal and implement measures to ensure the safety of staff and students while maintaining academic excellence.
The University of Embu has also been recognized for its efforts in promoting environmental sustainability. The institution has implemented various initiatives aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable development. These initiatives include the use of solar power, rainwater harvesting, and waste management practices.
In addition, the university has established partnerships with local communities and organizations to promote sustainable development in the region. These partnerships have led to the implementation of various community development projects aimed at improving the living standards of local residents.
The University of Embu has also been recognized for its efforts in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The institution has implemented various initiatives aimed at promoting gender mainstreaming and empowering women in leadership positions.
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University of Embu: How We Became Kenya’s Best Performing State Corporation
