With great pleasure, I welcome you all to this year’s Kabarak University 12th International Research Conferences hosted by the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and pre-conference training mounted by the Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network (KuQAn)
Date: October 24th, 2022
Key Note Speaker,
Prof. Mike Kuria,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Commission for University Education (CUE).
Prof Anne Nangulu
Chairperson- Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network Board
Prof. Maurice Okoth
Vice- Chairperson- Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network Board
Prof. Raphael Nyonje
The President - Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network Board
Members of Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network Board present
Prof Paul Muoki Nzioki
Prof Julius Maiyo
Mrs Agnes Gachau
Members of Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network Executive
Dr Antony Somba- The Vice-President
SR Dr Jackline Alari- The Secretary General
Ms Jane Mugo- The Treasurer
Prof Donald Otieno- Member
Dr Mukirae Njihia - Member
Members of the University Management,
Deans of Schools
Directors
Faculty and Students,
Conference participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning.
With great pleasure, I welcome you all to this year’s Kabarak University 12th International Research Conferences hosted by the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and pre-conference training mounted by the Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network (KuQAn)
The conference is unique. Kabarak University has collaborated with KuQAn in holding an international conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education this year through our School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.
The critical components of this collaboration involved hosting a conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education and mounting a preconference training on Quality Assurance in Institutions of Higher Learning in the 21st Century.
This collaboration will benefit both Kabarak University and the Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network (KuQAn).
Ladies and gentlemen, we are all proud to be associated with this great University that H.E Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi founded in the year 2002. This university is founded on Biblical principles and teaching, which is why we offer education in biblical perspective. In one accord, we have decided to set apart in our hearts, Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour.
We have hosted other international conferences this year:
- School of Business and Economics in October,
- School of Music and Media in October,
- Mathematical, Pure and Applied Sciences Conference in July this year.
- Law Conference in June,
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and School of Pharmacy Conference in June
- Media and Communication Conference in March
Today we are assembled here to launch pre-conference training and six research conferences in the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences that will run from 25th to 28th October 2022.
The conferences shall tackle matters related to the following themes:
- 21st-Century Issues and Practices in Education
- Quality Assurance in Institutions of Higher Learning in the 21st Century
- Social Change and Adaptation in the COVID-19 period
- Global Dynamics in Languages, Linguistics and Literature
- Emerging Frontiers in Mental Health
- Modern Theology and Politics in Africa
These issues are pertinent and are aligned to disciplines handled under the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. Various researchers will present their research papers focusing on the above themes. It is important to underscore that Kabarak University is ISO 9001:2015 certified and that since its inception, the university has enhanced the principles of Quality Management to improve the quality of our products and services.
Our Quality Management System based on ISO 900:2015 captures all teaching, research, and community outreach areas as well as governance and management.
Given this, the University endeavours to ensure that all teaching staff have the required competencies to effectively, efficiently, and consistently offer quality teaching that meets and exceeds the expectations of our students and other stakeholders.
In the realm of teaching, our top priority is to provide quality teaching and learning. Accordingly, the university established the Directorate of Excellence in Learning and Teaching (DELT) to handle quality teaching and learning issues.
In addition, we also have the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Institutional Planning (QAIP) that ensures internal quality assurance and implementation of our University Quality Management System based on ISO 900:2015.
It is against this background that the university collaborated with KuQAn to offer training on Quality Assurance in Higher Education to all academic staff as part of the pre-conference activities. I am, therefore, grateful to KuQAn for choosing to train Kabarak academic staff on quality assurance matters.
All our teaching staff will benefit from the following topics:
- The Significance of Quality Assurance and Education in Social Development
- Internal Institutional Quality Assurance: Concepts, Mechanisms and Practices in Universities.
- Internal Institutional Quality Assurance: Institutional Best Practices and sustainability; The processes & staff role.
- Enhancing the quality of research and publication in higher education: Quality Mentorship and coaching.
I appreciate KuQan for this collaboration in research conference and quality assurance training.
I appreciate the training facilitators; Prof. Paul Muoki Nzioki, Prof. Maurice Okoth and Prof. Julius Maiyo.
I urge all our teaching staff to attend all training activities to improve the quality of teaching, learning and research in the university.
I appreciate the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Director Research, Innovation and Outreach for organising this conferences.
On behalf of the entire Kabarak University fraternity, I wish to welcome everyone and declare this year’s International Conferences for the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and the preconference training of all Academic staff on Quality Assurance in Higher Education officially opened.
Finally, I want to thank you all for gracing this conference.
Thank you, and God bless you.
