NEW ACADEMIC YEAR TO COMMENCE ON AUGUST 31, 2020

The University of Nairobi will commence its new academic year on August 31, 2020, as scheduled.

“The Senate deliberated on this matter and decided that all students including the first years will start the 2020/2021 Academic year online,” announced the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama. “Consequently, on August 31, 2020, the University will admit 8,425 freshmen virtually. Most of them were the best performers in the 2019 KSCE. The Academic Registrar share more information through various media platforms.”

The Vice-Chancellor announced this in his address to the University of Nairobi community on August 7, 2020.

During their first week the new students will be taken through the “Know Your University Orientation Program.” In the second week, the students will be trained on how to use online platforms for their classes, how to access library resources and other online services. According to Prof. Kiama, the orientation will be for all undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Students were advised to use the following addresses to access critical services and information from the University: admissions and inter-university transfer issues- admissions@uonbi.ac.ke,; transcripts/verification/graduation - examinations@uonbi.ac.ke; Deferments/withdrawals /HELB issues - cost-sharing@uonbi.ac.ke and general enquiries on academic matters - reg-academic@uonbi.ac.ke.

In his brief, the Vice-chancellor addressed the ongoing implementation of the CBA No. 2017-2021.

“The implementation of this CBA has occasioned a huge budgetary deficit at University of Nairobi that must be contained moving forward. We must initiate urgent reforms to survive. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made matters worse,” he said. “It is also apparent that the current funding model of differentiated unit costs is not sustainable because it is founded on wrong assumptions. There is need for the government to engage the stakeholders in reforming the method used and developing a more acceptable and realistic funding model for universities. As we continue to engage the government and other external stakeholders, I want to let you know that internally we have no choice but to initiate some drastic reforms to address the deficit through cost cutting measures. All members of staff should therefore prepare for hard times ahead.”

Prof. Kiama announced three important events in the university calendar. Namely, the 63rd Graduation Ceremony scheduled for September 25, 2019, the Annual Research Week which will be held on October 12-16, 2020 and the Nairobi Innovation Week slotted for March 8-12, 2021.