Jkuat defends its graduands’ academic credentials
Oliver Musembi
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) has defended the academic credentials of its PhD graduates, insisting the process follows stringent quality measures.
Vice Chancellor Prof Victoria Ngumi said all degrees awarded at the university were meritoriously earned and no student was allowed to graduate without going through the due process regarding coursework, seminars, original research, external exam and publishing.
Speaking during the 34th graduation ceremony, the VC said the graduands were subjected to stringent training requirements as stipulated by the University Senate, the Commission for University Education (CUE) and other regulatory bodies.
“I attest that the graduands have been equipped with quality relevant skills, knowledge and work ethics in their various disciplines, in line with Kenya’s national development priorities,” she said.
During the graduation in June this year the university awarded 118 doctorate degrees in the 33rd such occasion, bringing the institution under sharp criticism from sector players.
This time JKUAT held a joint graduation fete with Pan African University of Science, Technology and Innovation (Pausti), where 97 graduands were conferred with the PhDs, 44 from Pausti and 53 from JKUAT, a decline of more than 50 per cent.
Critics had questioned the credibility of the doctorate degrees accusing the university of dishing out unwarranted credentials to politicians and unqualified people.
