MKU registrar tips students on course selection

Last year’s Form Four leavers should use the current course revision window well to embark on their career paths on the right footing.

Up until February 23 when the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service shuts the window, they should have identified the courses that suit them.

That is the advice from Dr Ronald Maathai, Mount Kenya University (MKU) registrar, academic administration.

“Choose a course that matches your passion,” he counsels. Dr Maathai further urges students to focus of acquiring skills that can make them job creators and not just job seekers.
Why does he say so?

“Job creation,” says Dr Maathai, “is the way to go. The entrepreneurial attitude is what we are inculcating at MKU. This benefits the graduate and the nation.”

He adds: “Whichever course you choose, focus on it with all might. Identify a role model whose achievement and character inspires you.”

CHOOSE CAREERS
MKU receives both government-sponsored and self-sponsored students who choose careers from among the university’s more than 60 science and art programmes.

Over the last three intakes (in 2016, 2017 and 2018), the university has received close to 7,000 government-sponsored students who are pursuing different Bachelors degree programmes.

One of them, Mr Victor Mung’oni Kusimba, 22, is living his dream at MKU, where he is studying for a degree in dental technology.

On her part, Ms Lynna Norah Mulama says had the government not sponsored her, she would not be at MKU or any other institution of higher learning.

“My parents are poor,” she says. “They could not raise money to take me through a parallel degree programme or even a diploma course. I probably would still be teaching at the local primary school just like I did after completing Form Four.”

LACK OF FEES

She adds: “I thank God for bringing me to MKU. I am delighted to be here and will work towards attaining my goal…. My parents thank God for this opportunity.”

Ms Rita Nafula Kibiti narrates a similar tale, saying lack of fees would have seen her fail to join a higher education institution after she completed her Form Four last year.

Ms Kibiti says she is grateful to Government for sponsoring her to MKU, where she is studying for a degree in Economics and Finance.

Mr Geoffrey Gitui Njoroge is another happy student at MKU because, as he says, he is pursuing his “dream career”: An undergraduate course in dental technology.

“Since I was young, my passion was in the medical profession. I really appreciate the government sponsoring me with Ksh70,000 every semester. My family would not have raised this kind of money on top of the Ksh11,500 they contribute,” he says.

SINGLE MOTHER
Mr Edwin Oloo Odhiambo, 22, the son of a single mother, thought he was dreaming when he was admitted to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management at MKU.
His words: “I am thrilled to have joined MKU, and more so the fact that the government enabled us to undertake degree studies. This would not have been possible had the government not intervened. My experience in MKU so far has been great.”

Mr Johnson Kabera says he applied for the Animal Health and Production degree course at MKU because he wants the knowledge to help him reap rewards from farming.

Most popular degree courses at MKU

*Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

* Bachelor of Pharmacy

* Bachelor of Science in Nursing

* Bachelor of Commerce

* Bachelor of Business Management

* Bachelor of Education (Science)

* Bachelor of Education (Arts)

* Bachelor of Education in Special Needs (Secondary option)

* Bachelor of Procurement

* Bachelor of Economics and Statistics

* Bachelor of Economics and Finance

* Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry

* Bachelor of Information Technology

* Bachelor of Business Information Technology

* Bachelor of Development Studies

* Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science

* Bachelor of Science in Finance and Statistics

* Bachelor of Science in Statistics

* Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Security Management

* Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Governance

* Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication
* Bachelor of Science in Information Science

* Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences

* Bachelor of Technology in Computer and Electronic Systems

* Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management

* Bachelor of Science in Travel and Tourism Management

* Bachelor of Dental Technology

* Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management

* Bachelor of Science in Travel and Tourism Management

For more information, visit www.mku.ac.ke