Masinde Muliro University gets approval to offer engineering courses

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has been given the go-ahead to offer engineering courses by the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).

This is a relief to engineering students who were forced to discontinue their studies in April after it emerged their courses had not been approved by the EBK.

The university has since recalled the affected students to pick from where they left about four months ago.

"It is against this background that the university is recalling engineering students to complete the second semester 2015- 2016," a statement signed by the university acting Vice Chancellor Joseph Rotich read in part.

All continuing students were expected to report yesterday.

The university sent all the engineering students home following their boycott of classes, demanding that the accreditation issue be addressed urgently.

Programmes affected included Civil and Structural Engineering, Electrical and Communications Engineering and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

Prof Rotich said all the courses have now been accredited.

The accreditation process was derailed following delays to constitute a new EBK board after the term of the current one expired.

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology was among six other universities whose engineering programmes were 'disallowed' by the EBK over accreditation standoff.

This triggered student strikes in affected universities.

Students accused the university managements of offering them courses that were likely to be doubted in the job market.

The EBK declined to accredit engineering programmes at the institution for lack of adequate equipment and teaching staff.

The board also refused to ratify the institution's engineering curriculum. This meant the engineering students could not be recognised even after graduating.

"The programmes have been granted interim accreditation after meeting the minimum EBK requirements with respect to the programme design and curriculum content," said Prof Rotich in a statement.

He said the road towards accreditation has been a tough journey for the university.

"We are happy to say that an accreditation visit by EBK members on May 25, 2016, has finally borne fruit," he said.

The board, during a special board meeting held on July 8, deliberated on the outcome of the accreditation visit.