Six Kenyan universities have scooped top ten slots in ICT usage in a survey of ICT use in 100 East African institutions of higher learning, a report released yesterday reveals.
In the research, sponsored by the Pan African Educational Group and carried out by the Centre for Public and Social Research International, Uganda’s Makerere University garnered the most points, scoring 13.49 points followed by Kenya’s Strathmore University with 12.84 and Busitema University, also of Uganda, at 12.28.
Universities in Burundi lagged behind in the use and accessibility of ICT, largely blamed on low investments on the ICT infrastructure. The University of Bujumbura was the highest placed Burundian institution, at position 39 with 10.10 points.
Private universities scored higher than their public counterparts in Kenya, attributed to higher investment in ICT as well as the low ratio of students to resources. However, the public universities still performed well with Multimedia University College at position five with 11.93. The University of Nairobi, the most populous university in Kenya, was positioned eighth with 11.84 points.
Constituent colleges of public universities further outperformed the main universities with better ICT facilities cited as the reason.
The report further reveals that there was a big correlation between ISO certified universities and those working towards the certification and use of ICT with the already certified ones using ICT to remain compliant.
Out of the six Rwandan universities surveyed, the School of Finance and Banking was ranked highest, scoring 12.08 points in fourth position overall, while the National University of Rwanda was at number 11.
None of the 23 Tanzanian universities emerged among the top 10, with Hubert Kariuki Memorial University at number 13 garnering 10.45 points. The University of Dar es Salaam followed closely at number 16 with 10.22 points.
It was, however, all rosy for Kenyan universities where five of the last top 20 originated. The Great Lakes University of Kisumu was ranked poorest of the universities surveyed at position 100, scoring just above half of the total points at 7.56, while the Presbyterian University of East Africa was at position 93, with 7.84 points.
The CPS international education index 2012 identified access to ICT as the single most influential resource embraced by top universities worldwide to ensure that their graduates remain competitive globally.
The researchers were however convinced that East African universities were competing favourably in the use of ICT.
