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

United States International University

Balancing Tension between Local Needs and

International TrendsAn African Perspective

Where is Kenya?

Where is USIU located?

OverviewLocal Needs

Demand for higher education greater than available resources

International TrendsExpansion of markets

TensionsQuality

• Human resources• Technology & distance learning

Relevancy• National development or market-driven• Curriculum design

Access• Increasing costs

The BalanceGovernment policiesPartnershipsExpectations

198,356 high school students graduated42,721 met the entry requirements of the public universities10,872 were admitted This represents 5% of the total school leavers and 25% of those admissible to public universities

(Nation, September 17, 2003)

Local NeedsLocal Needs

Government Strategies to Meet Growing Demands

Increase number of public universities

Increase student intakes

Encourage formation of private universities

Public UniversitiesOne public university with 2786 students

Largest first year intake – 20,837

Six public universities with 41,825 students

Private UniversitiesOne private university with 5 students

Private universities begin to experience major growthFive chartered private universities with 6920 students

1970

1990

2000

Higher Education -2004Public 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 programs49% of market share when combined with parallel programs

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

AY86/87 AY89/90 AY92/93 AY95/96 AY98/99 AY01/02

USIU Enrollments (1986 to 2003)

International International TrendsTrends

Expanding MarketsInternational Recruitment

National recruitment policies and marketing campaigns in Japan, Canada and AustraliaBritain has 8 million dollar recruitment campaign to recruit 75,000 international studentsGerman universities formed a consortium to recruit students from Europe and Latin AmericaAustralian government promotes its 39 universities11 billion dollars spent annually in the US by international students (Halliday, 1999)

African Market

Two African nations among top 30 withstudents leaving their countries to

attenduniversities in the US:

Kenya (20) - 6,229Nigeria (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?A Perfect Match?

Tension: Human Resources

Brain StrainMultiple teaching loads at different institutionsUse of local faculty to support distance learning programs and foreign campuses

Human Resources

RemunerationAssistant ProfessorMedian = US$975

Associate Professor

Median = US$1098

ProfessorMedian = US$1,200

Information Technology & Distance Learning

Tariffs for Internet bandwidth: 1024kbps – US$ 6750Infrastructure limitationsMax 512 kbps over telephone line – copper wiresContent 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 serviceNeed for technical educationKenya is consistent with common global pattern of 2/3’s studying humanities and 1/3 studying sciencesPrivate universities encouraged to introduce more science based programs in applied sciences

Market drivenUndergraduate

Business Administration1196

Information Systems and Technology 354International Relations 290Hotel Restaurant & Tourism Management 161Psychology 129Journalism 104

Master’sMBA/MIBA 263Counseling Psychology 61International Relations 43

Relevant Academic Programming

Curriculum Design National and /or multinational

approach

AccessReal average earnings in the modern sector was KSH171,114.40 per annum in 2002 or US$ 2195 per year.

(Economic Survey 2003)

Access: TuitionUndergrad Fees & Tution 2000-2001

172

149

136

132

131

110

91

- 50 100 150 200

USIU

Nazarene

Daystar

Baraton

Catholic

Kenya Methodist

St.Pauls College

Inst

itu

tio

n

Fees & Tuition in shs'000

Access: TuitionGraduate Tuition and Fees 2000-2001

151

150

149

140

135

125 130 135 140 145 150 155

Catholic

Daystar

USIU

UON

Nazarene

Inst

itutio

n

Tuition & Fees in shs'000

USIU/Alliant MBA Tuition Comparisons-2002/03Institution MBA

Tuition 2 semesters

USIU, Nairobi $1,395

University of Nairobi $1,423

Alliant Int’l University, San Diego

$12,420

BalancingBalancing

Government Policies-Universities ActCommission for Higher

Education (CHE) Established 1985 to:

Promote university educationAccredit universitiesCoordinate long term planning, scholarship and physical developmentApprove courses of studyProvide central admission services to public universitiesInspect public universities

Proposed Revised Universities Act

Oversight of campuses of foreign universities and distance learning programs to assure quality.

Government Policieson Local Expansion

PartnershipsKENETINASP –Library consortiumCHEPrivate Universities Vice Chancellor’s CommitteeInter University Council of Eastern AfricaOther Institutions

United States International University

Balancing Expectations

Anecdotal Story