University of Nairobi to scrap over 40 ‘useless’ degree courses

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UoN Courses: The University of Nairobi is set to scrap over 40-degree courses.

According to a report that appeared in a local daily, some of these courses have not attracted any students over the last five years.

Also, some of the courses to be dropped were either duplicated or have since been replaced. The courses list is compiled from recommendations made by about ten university’s faculties, schools, institutes or centres. Here’s what the report in the Standard says:

The courses cut across certificates, diploma, bachelors, masters and PhD. The most-affected courses are from agriculture, mathematics, population studies and research institute, nursing science, translation and interpretation, biological sciences, African women studies, arts, Institute of anthropology, gender and African studies and physical sciences.

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In recommending the scrapping of the classes, the University of Nairobi document refers to the requirement by the government on the audit of academic programmes in universities to address quality and duplication.

“Consequently, the university has undertaken to rationalise programmes and review or revise curricula to comply with the Commission for University Education (CUE) standards and guidelines,” reads the document on UoN courses.

In the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Nairobi, the PhD in Agriculture will be dropped.

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Three programmes in the School of Mathematics have also been listed for scrapping. These are BSc in Industrial Mathematics, PhD in Applied Statistics and PhD in Mathematics.

A total of nine courses will be scrapped at the School of Biological Sciences, including three courses under Open Distance and e-Learning (OdeL). These are BSc in Microbiology and Biotechnology, BSc in Biology, BSc in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources Management.

Others are MSc in Agriculture Entomology, MSc in Medical and Veterinary Entomology, PhD in Applied Microbiology, PhD in Plant Ecology, PhD in Terrestrial Plant Ecology and PhD in Aquatic Plant Ecology. At the School of Physical Sciences, a total of 17 courses will be scrapped, including the Certificate in Chemistry.

BSc in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science, BSc in Environmental Geoscience (code 117 and 127), and Postgraduate Diploma in Environment and Natural Disaster Management will be scrapped.

BSc in Microprocessor Technology and Instrumentation, BSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Bachelor of Science (atmospheric science) and PhD in Environmental Chemistry have also been listed.

Others are four masters programmes; Master of Science in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, Master of Science in Pure Chemistry, Master of Science in Inorganic Chemistry and Master of Science in Organic Chemistry.

BSc in Environmental Chemistry (code 143 and code 143m3) have also been listed for scrapping.

In the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, three postgraduate diploma courses will be scrapped. These are postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Studies, postgraduate Diploma in Heritage Management and postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Development Studies.

Seven courses in the Faculty of Arts will also be scrapped. Diploma in Water Resources Management, Diploma in Strategic and Security Studies, post graduate Diploma in Labour Relations, postgraduate Diploma in Armed Conflicts, postgraduate Diploma in Advance Disaster and postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies will be dropped.