Benchmarking of Undergraduate Computing Curricula in Kenya
Journal Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Year 2013, Vol 6, Issue 1
Abstract
This study investigated the quality of undergraduate computing curricula at Kenyan universities, how they compare locally and regionally with equivalent programs and how closely they meet the ICT sector needs. It was guided by four objectives i.e. to undertake an ontological mapping of computing curricula, to identify appropriate benchmarking criteria, to develop and test a benchmarking tool, and to investigate the alignment of these curricula to computing skills requirement. The study was deemed important by the plethora of academic computing programs of varying degrees of utility and credibility, which are a product of the escalating demand for computing education in Kenya given the development of Vision 2030 and the rapid growth of the ICT industry. To achieve its objectives, the study adopted a quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional descriptive survey of computing curricula offered locally (in Kenya) and regionally (from best practicing countries, USA and India). A sample of 70.3% was drawn from the target population for ontological mapping. Two research instruments, i.e. a questionnaire and a document analysis framework that were administered to a cross-section of 11 public/private universities. The study established that there are 24 undergraduate computing programs under 6 titles, viz. BSc., BCom., BTech., BB., BEd. and BEng. The two most populous programs are BSc. Computer Science (CS) and BSc. Information Technology (IT), which were selected to help identify two benchmarking criteria: Percent weight allocation of core hours within ACM knowledge areas and Relative performance capabilities of computing graduates. Using these criteria a benchmarking tool was developed and tested, which depicted disparities among the respondents in the percent weight allocation of core hours in CS programs. Similarly, it portrayed overlaps in the relative performance capabilities of CS and IT graduates, an outcome that queried the uniqueness of these programs. As such, its results indicate that the quality of the two computing programs is relatively insufficient. However, it further establishes that the computing curricula are aligned to meet the top 3 highly demanded computing skills i.e. Networking, Software development and Internet skills albeit insufficient percent weight allocation of core hours in Software development. It therefore recommends further testing and refining of the established benchmarking tool, the need to re-focus the computing programs and supports the call to institute a regulatory body and qualifications framework for computing education and skills.Â
Authors and Affiliations
Joseph Mungai, Wanjiku Nganga
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP654309
- DOI 10.24297/ijmit.v6i1.754
- Views 171
- Downloads 0
Karyotyping of Human Chromosomes Using M_FISH Images
Karyotyping is a technique used to align the chromosomes in the decreasing order of size so that the structural and numerical changes can be easily identified. Traditional chromosome analysis is simplified by the introdu...
Cooperative Problem Solving in Telecommunication Network
Swarm intelligence, as demonstrated by natural biological swarms, has numerous powerful properties desirable in many engineering systems, such as telecommunication. Communication network management is becoming increasing...
CONSUMERS PERCEPTION TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING- THE CASE OF PUNJAB
India has more than 100 million internet users out of which one half opt for online purchases and the number is rising sharply every year. The growth in the number of online shoppers is greater than the growth in Interne...
Mapping Issues of Textile Industry of Pakistan with Trade Policy Framework
The current research investigates Mapping Issues of Textile Industry of Pakistan with Trade Policy Framework. Data were collected from Primary as well as secondary sources It is a statistical research technique in decisi...
Relationship between Information System and Information Overload. A Preliminary Analysis
The aim of this research is to investigate the role of information system in supporting companies to face with information overload. Specifically, the study provides an empirical analysis aimed to examine whether the qua...