Quality Issues in the Expansion of University Education in Kenya, the Human Resource Challenges and Opportunities

This paper gives an analysis of the quality issues in the expansion of university education in Kenya examining the human resource challenges and opportunities. It examines a variety of factors that impact the nature, content, and mode of delivery of the teaching. The paper is an introduction and highlights the importance of higher education to societal development. It observes that higher education enables individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest potential, serves the needs of an adaptive, sustainable and knowledge based economy and plays a major role in shaping a democratic, civilized and inclusive society. It is thus seen as the key to progress in the 21 st century. It examines government policy with respect to education in general and higher education in particular. It is noted that the government recognizes the important role that education plays to foster national development and has therefore through various policy instruments sought to ensure that access, relevance, and quality become the major areas of the development of higher education in the country. The management of the universities in the country has faced serious human resource challenges. These challenges arise from the fact that the rapid expansion of university education in the country has not been accompanied with provision of resources in order to maintain high standards, quality, and relevance. This in turn has negatively affected the quality and relevance of the programmes. It is recommended that in order to enhance the quality of teaching, research, and service delivery.