University gets quality assurance certification from the government
By James Wakahiu
Worth Noting:
- The ISO certificate, which entails the development of a management system, is dedicated to enabling the university to attain its set objectives. “It is central to enabling MKU to meet its quality systems and improvement of service delivery led by leadership,” she added.
- She urged the institution’s management to ensure integration of the QMS into the organization’s business processes and to assign the responsibilities and authorities for ensuring that processes are delivering their intended outputs.
- QMS helps leaders at all levels in an organization to establish unity of purpose and direction, align their strategies, policies, processes and resources to achieve its objectives.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has been awarded a quality assurance standard by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs).
Prof David Serem, chairman of university council, says the ISO Certification allows the growth and quality of education to spread fully across the whole university, so that it becomes embedded within all the systems and processes that are used across all campuses, schools and within all offices whether within the country or outside the country,” he said.
MKU has campuses, marketing and Open, Distance, and e-Learning (ODeL) Centres across the country and in the wider East African region. “Moreover, other partner institutions will desire to collaborate with an ISO Certified institution,” Prof Serem said.
The ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System recertification ceremony took place at a Kiambu hotel last weekend and was led by Eng Zachariah Lukorito, Kebs chief manager, standards development and trade.
The university chancellor, Prof John Struthers, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Justina Vida Struthers, said having been part of the university leadership for several years now, he understood the immense work that has been put in to achieve re-certification of the ISO 9001. “This standard in the educational field evaluates and certifies all processes related to teaching and student learning in order to guarantee the quality of the educational institutions,” he said.
The chancellor said this is key in an increasingly competitive environment being experienced in Kenya and globally. “Given the ever-increasing competition among universities in the world today, the ISO 9001 Certified institutions are able to compete strongly in the face of this competition. This enables the University to standout, to have a higher international rating, and to attract more reputable stakeholders, both students and partners,” he added
Applauding the university council, management board, senate and staff of MKU for getting certified, Kebs managing director Esther Ngari said the re-certification of ISO 9001 comes after three years. “It will boost the university’s mission of ‘providing world-class education, research and innovation for global transformation and sustainable development’ shaped by MKU’s vision of being ‘a global hub of excellence in education, research and innovation,” she said.
Kebs provides standardization, metrology and conformity assessment services that safeguard consumers and facilitate trade for sustainable development. “With this certification, you are squarely putting the university in the world map in terms of quality academic programmes and graduating of students with international quality standards,” Ngari added in a speech read on her behalf by Eng Lukorito
The MD said the re-certification marks yet another beginning of a journey towards delivering quality service and enhancing the institution’s sustainability against the backdrop disruptions such as national and global economic uncertainties, stiff global competition, new demands from the youth and changes in technology. “I have no doubt that Mount Kenya University will be able to overcome these challenges in both the learning and business operating environment,” she said.
The ISO certificate, which entails the development of a management system, is dedicated to enabling the university to attain its set objectives. “It is central to enabling MKU to meet its quality systems and improvement of service delivery led by leadership,” she added.
She urged the institution’s management to ensure integration of the QMS into the organization’s business processes and to assign the responsibilities and authorities for ensuring that processes are delivering their intended outputs. QMS helps leaders at all levels in an organization to establish unity of purpose and direction, align their strategies, policies, processes and resources to achieve its objectives.
Ngari said the achievement of the UN Agenda 2030(SDGs) and Kenya’s vision 2030 in a world that is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic requires accelerated and coordinated efforts by all stakeholders and government agencies. “One important lesson stemming from the covid-19 pandemic is that we need to build and strengthen our resilience to the risks associated with extreme events of such nature,” she said.
Ngari said post-pandemic policies need to integrate planning for resilience and risk management. “The biggest risk is losing years of growth efforts to one major external shock. To build back better, over the medium and long term, this ISO certification provides a viable framework and solution,” she noted.
The MD encouraged the students, the university staff members, parents, guardian and even suppliers, among others, to embrace the implementation of the new ISO re-certification and learn from the benefits it offers. “Kebs will continue to offer guidance and advice that will enable you to improve on quality management system development, management system documentation review, pre-audit, and initial assessment and clearance of non-conformances,” she said.
Prof Serem said the university council will continue to support the university management to promulgate policies; adopt best practices; and put in place systems and structures that will make MKU a giant in quality assurance.
“MKU is committed to provision of world class education, research and innovation for individual transformation and sustainable development. Pursuit of this commitment, the university shall continually monitor its context, ensure compliance with all applicable requirements and continually improve on its effectiveness by implementing a quality management system based on ISO 9001:2015,” he added.
Dr. Jane Nyutu, a founder member of the MKU board of directors, thanked the university leadership led by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deo Jaganyi for achieving the ISO certification. “I recognise the support Kebs has given us since 2012 when we got the first certification of ISO 9001:2008 standard version. Thank you very much Madam Esther Ngari for the support that you have given to us. You are a valuable partner. The Board continue to support the University Management through injecting resources especially ICT infrastructure necessary to ease the service delivery and promote quality delivery. We have also ensured that adequate resources are allocated to physical developments.
On his part, Prof Jaganyi said MKU has a holistic approach to quality assurance, covering all the processes in the institution, in order to serve, to create and maintain customer satisfaction by understanding the customer’s preferences and needs. “Our directorate of quality assurance conducts surveys and evaluations every semester to receive feedback from our students on the standards levels of our service delivery,” he said.
Jaganyi said the institution has reaped multiple benefits from the ISO certification, including enhanced customer satisfaction and culture development. “We are committed to ensure compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 standards and other internal and external regulatory requirements and we are grateful for the continued support from Kebs,” he added.
MKU pro-chancellor Dr Vincent Gaitho said the certification means the unvesity management and staff are taking on more responsibility in the institution.
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