The School of Business and Economics (SBE) has officially concluded its five-day intensive training on converting curricula from Knowledge-Based Education to Competency-Based Education (CBE), marking a significant milestone in Kabarak University’s ongoing academic transformation journey.
The workshop, which began last Friday, brought together members of the University Management Board, the Dean, School of Business & Economics , Prof. Patrick Kibati , Head of Departments, and academic staff, in a focused effort to redesign programmes to align with modern educational demands. The closing ceremony was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Henry K. Kiplangat, who described the exercise as a structural, philosophical, and strategic shift for the University.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that the week’s engagement was far more than a routine curriculum review. He noted that higher education today is increasingly evaluated not by the volume of content delivered, but by the competencies graduates demonstrate in solving real-world problems.
“Our focus has shifted from what students learn to what problems they can solve,” he affirmed. The Vice-Chancellor expressed satisfaction with the progress made throughout the week and commended the School for embracing institutional reform with seriousness and clarity of purpose.
The transition to Competency-Based Education at Kabarak University began in September 2021, when the University engaged the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to train academic staff on the principles and architecture of CBE. That foundational training laid the groundwork for structured curriculum reform across the institution.
As earlier reported during the opening of this workshop, the Commission for University Education has since reviewed and approved CBE-converted curricula from the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, which are now under implementation. This progress demonstrates that the University’s shift to CBE is deliberate, structured, and aligned with national regulatory standards.
With this week’s engagement, the School of Business and Economics has now taken its rightful place in expanding the University-wide reform.
To ensure consistency and quality across all schools, the Vice-Chancellor appointed CBE Champions in each of the University’s seven schools. At SBE, Mr. Jonathan Maritim was commended for his diligence in coordinating the process and providing leadership throughout the training.
The Directorate of Excellence in Learning and Teaching (DELT), under the leadership of Dr. Lydia Kanake Kobia, was also recognized for offering technical guidance, oversight, and quality assurance to anchor the transition on sound academic principles and regulatory alignment.
While celebrating the milestone, the Vice-Chancellor reminded participants that the workshop marks the beginning of consolidation rather than the end of the process. He encouraged faculty members to dedicate additional time and collaborative effort toward refining and finalizing the reviewed curricula before submission to the Senate for consideration.
The successful conclusion of the training reflects Kabarak University’s unwavering commitment to responsive, future-focused education. As the School of Business and Economics moves toward full implementation of Competency-Based Education, the University continues to strengthen its position as a leader in academic innovation and excellence.
With these remarks, the Vice-Chancellor formally declared the workshop closed, bringing to an end a transformative week that will shape the future of business and economics education at Kabarak University.
