Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Stakeholder Validation Exercise
The University of Nairobi held a stakeholder validation exercise for the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at the UoN Towers.
The Chair of the Strategic Plan Committee and Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. John Mande took the stakeholders through the Strategic plan. He mentioned the Key Result Areas (KRA) of Digitalization, with a strategic goal of creating technologically advanced and integrated environment that enhances quality teaching and learning, efficient campus services and seamless collaborations and partnerships for research.
The second Key Result Area is Research and Community Service whose strategic goal is to increase the vibrancy of research activity and community service.
KRA 3 is Innovation and Commercialization ecosystem who goal is to harness, nurture and motivate the free flow of knowledge, resources and opportunities towards the creation and growth of innovative industry-relevant products and services.
KRA 4 is People Focus, whose strategic goal is to ensure that the university is people focused in all its undertakings. The fifth is Sustainability whose goal is to transform the University into an environmental and financially sustainable institution and KRA 6 is Teaching, Learning and Creative Works whose goal is to provide relevant, sustainable and responsive curricula in compliance with all regulatory requirements on university education.
Speaking during the validation workshop, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama expressed hope that some of the challenges facing the institution could be mitigated through this strategic plan, ‘As we gather today to validate our strategic plan, it is crucial to acknowledge the pressing issues and challenges that have guided our decision-making process. The dwindling revenue streams and the overreliance on a single source of income have highlighted the urgent need for us to diversify our financial resources. By aligning our curriculum with industry demands, we aim to bridge the skills gap and tackle the issue of graduate unemployment caused by a lack of skills alignment.’
‘With a clear focus on six strategic areas for implementation, we are committed to digitizing the university, building a robust research community, fostering innovation and commercialization efforts, investing in our human resources, and ensuring the university remains adaptable and resourceful in a rapidly evolving environment.
Dr. Kantaria, of Elgon Kenya, appreciated the efforts of the University to continually seek excellence. He urged all the stakeholders present to incorporate the aspect of a student-centered and student-led initiatives within the plan and increase partnership with the private sector. This will ensure that a wholesome graduate becomes an ambassador and an agent of change on behalf of the University of Nairobi.
The strategic Plan has highlighted key challenges such as Inadequate Resources, Inadequate Strategy Communication, Resistance to Change, Staff turnover, Lack of collaboration, decline in student numbers, global economic recession and cost of doing business and work environment.
The Strategic Plan 2023-2027 has also proposed a new vision, statement, 'To be a globally competitive university transforming society' and a mission statement, ' To provide quality university education that embodies the aspirations of the kenyan people and the global community through teaching, research, innovation and community service.'
