'Nation' launches varsities student guide

A publication focusing on university education in East Africa was launched in Nairobi on Thursday.

The East African Universities Guide, which is published by the Nation Media Group’s regional newspaper The EastAfrican, contains information on university opportunities in the region, career choice, quality of education, life on campus and research and innovation.

The publication seeks to guide secondary school students and their parents, as well as adult learners keen to pursue higher education, in deciding the right universities and courses for them.

Speaking at the launch, Technical University of Kenya Vice-Chancellor Prof Francis Oduol congratulated NMG for publishing the guide, which he said provided useful information to students.

More than half of the students joining university are unsure and uninformed about the courses they are studying.

Prof Oduol noted that unhappy and resentful students are largely behind college unrest.

“Social sciences have been looked down upon and this is implanted in the minds of students,” said Prof Oduol. “Society must realise that, without general knowledge, then there will be no professional knowledge.”

NMG Chief Executive Joe Muganda said education was one of the areas the media house was focusing on to meet its obligation of providing useful information to the public.

“If students study across the region, then they can work across the region,” said Mr Muganda. “Labour movement will be seamless.”

The publication’s editor, Ms Pamella Sittoni, said the guide will be useful in ongoing harmonisation of university education in the region.

“Integration should not only happen at a superficial level but should benefit the people of East Africa,” said Ms Sittoni, who is the Managing Editor of The EastAfrican.

The guide is available in Nakumatt and Naivas stores in Kenya and in the outlets of NMG distributors across the region. Some of the articles can also be found at www.theeastafrican.co.ke.