Internationalisation Practices And Thier Implications On Provision Of Quality Academic Programmes In Public And Private Universities In Kenya

ABSTRACT

Research on the role of internationalisation to the growth and development of higher education has steadily grown over the past decades. However, there is limited knowledge on the understanding of the process of internationalisation particularly in African higher education. To fill the gap, this study explored the key stakeholders understanding of the process of internationalisation in Kenyan Universities. The study was guided by four objectives: 1) To explore how role-players in Kenyan Universities understand and perceive internationalisation of higher education; 2) To analyze policies of internationalisation in the target Universities in Kenya and assess their implications on provision of quality academic programmes; 3) To establish practices of internationalisation in the target Universities in Kenya and assess their implications on quality of academic programmes and; 4) To determine the role played by academic staff in internationalisation of higher education. The study was conducted in four Universities, namely: Moi University; University of Nairobi; United States International University- Africa; and Mount Kenya University. It used mixed method design adopting a convergent parallel sequential approach that allowed interpretation and analysis of ideologically different sources of data from documents, questionnaires and interviews to report on the internationalisation practices in the target Universities in Kenya. For quantitative data, there was use of frequencies and means to give statistical trends on internationalisation. Qualitative data was coded, themes developed and analyzed to give meanings to the statistical patterns that emerged. The study found out that the target Universities did not have a comprehensive understanding of the process of internationalisation of higher education. On rationales, the target Universities identified academic rationales as the main reason for supporting internationalisation. On policies, the study found out that the target Universities identified internationalisation as a remedy to poor academic programming. On internationalisation practices, it established that student and staff exchange programmes, partnerships and aspects of internationalisation of the curriculum were available. However, these practices had not been integrated into University structures, thus limiting the impact of their implementation on academic programmes. On the role played by academic staff in internationalisation, the study found out that the academics had minimal role particularly in deciding percentage of the University budget set aside for internationalisation, integrating international students into their University culture and setting the agenda for international research. The lack of a comprehensive understanding of the concept of internationalisation, inadequate involvement of academic staff, poor established practices in the target Universities had compromised the use of internationalisation as a strategy of improving their academic programmes. The study recommends that Universities in Kenya should invest in trainings on internationalisation to ensure that there is clarity on the concept, its rationale and underlying values within the unique context of their Universities.