On Friday June 21, 2019, JKUAT Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Mathu Ndungu conferred degrees and awarded diplomas to 3545 graduands during the institution’s 33rd graduation ceremony
118 were awarded doctorate degrees
In the backdrop of such enviable achievements, the University’s attention has been drawn to news items, commentaries and opinions in social media questioning the integrity of the degrees offered by JKUAT
The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology is on the spot for allegedly awarding dubious degrees during the Friday’s 33rd graduation ceremony at the school. Netizens on Twitter camped to trash the degrees, arguing that for the university to graduate 118 PhDs when no one knows of any innovation in both fields is a monumental scandal & should be closed.
However, the University has today issued a statement on the Doctorate Degrees awarded on Friday. In a press release circulated on social media this evening, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Professor Robert Kinyua assures that JKUAT observes stringent quality measures in mounting its academic and research programmes across all levels including those set by the Commission of University Education and various professional bodies.
He goes ahead to add that all degrees of the University are meritoriously earned and no student is allowed to graduate without going through the due process regarding coursework, seminars, original research, external examination and publications. He insists that all the 118 candidates awarded PhDs earned their degrees having taken an average of 5years; some having enrolled in the year 2010.
Professor Kinyua praises the university’s faculty, mentioning that JKUAT has a highly qualified and dynamic faculty comprising 923 academics. He points out the College of Human Resource Development, which is served by 85 doctorate degree holders. In addition to this, there is veritable teaching and research infrastructure, has enabled the institution to be the most preferred institution in the country by students seeking higher education. JKUAT has attracted the highest number of students on non government scholarships for the second year running, having admitted 4886 in 2018 and 5901 in 2019.
The DVC, Academic Affairs acknowledges that the University has over the years created an environment of creativity and innovation; giving its staff and students a pedestal to engage in award winning research and innovation. Also, due to JKUAT’s teaching and research outputs, the university won a competitive bid dfto host the African Union fronted Pan African University institute for Basic Sciences technology and innovation. The University has also been in the forefront in providing sustainable solutions in key areas such as food security, manufacturing, construction and ICT. JKUAT also leads other Kenyan Universities in the number of intellectual property rights under its fold.
Prof. Kinyua concludes the press release by assuring the general public that the university remains committed to the ideals and values underpinning quality, relevance and professionalism.
