The influence of globalization on management of universities in Kenya

Abstract

Globalization is characterized by, but not limited to, liberalism, free market policies, information and communication technology, inter-connection, inter dependence, and borderless border that has made the world a global village. Globalization is the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. Globalization in education, therefore, implies the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of knowledge, skills and attitudes. It means the integration of national education policies and practices into the international education systems through investment in education, innovation, and technology. The influence of globalization on management of university education is of great importance to developing countries such as Kenya. Students and scholars have been moving across the globe to acquire or disseminate information respectively. But policy and technological developments of the past few decades have spurred increases in cross-border investment in education and migration of the educated such that the world has actually entered a qualitatively new phase in its investment and provision of university education. Advances in information technology, in particular, have dramatically transformed economic life of the people and hence the need for education to go beyond the borders. These have serious ramifications on the administration and management of universities in Kenya. In terms of education, globalization has led to more influx and quick dissemination of information through the Internet between countries and cultural intermingling. On the other hand, it has resulted in labour drain and less cultural diversity. In Kenya the challenges facing universities include limited opportunities available in public universities beyond their capacity to plan and finance, the desire to complement government-managed institutions of higher learning and a decline in quality. This paper, therefore, reviews the influence of globalization on management of university education with particular attention to human resource management, the effect of opening up of campuses in urban centres, ICT infrastructure and its use in teaching/learning process, research capacity, alternative sourcing for funds and quality assurance. The paper recommends education reforms that would maintain acceptable university academic standards. These include reforms on competition, reduction of costs and equity considerations.