By Amoto Ndiewo
CPS Research International researcher Professor Herman Manyora has called on local universities to initiate courses that would attract more foreign students to strengthen their revenues.
In recently released CPS report, The University of Nairobi, USIU, Strathmore University, Mt Kenya University and Kenyatta University are the top five universities attracting foreign students.
Out of the 5,218 international students the report says 72.2 per cent come from Eastern African countries of which 67 per cent of them prefer public to private universities.
The CPS research –State of International Students in Kenya 2021 – was conducted in 71 universities and involved 57 university administrators and 816 university students.
“Of the 5,218 foreign students, University of Nairobi leads with 1,300 students enrolled, USIU has 1,100, Strathmore got 660, MKU has 560, Kenyatta University has 472, Moi University has 322, JKUAT got 300, Catholic University of East Africa has 255 and Egerton University has 130 students whereas Maseno University has 119 foreign students.
Amongst the Eastern African countries, Uganda has 19.9 per cent, South Sudan 19.2 per cent, Tanzania 18.8 per cent and Somalia 18 per cent.
On the course statistics the CPS report states that business and economic studies led attracting 42.5 per cent , followed by engineering with 10 per cent, medical courses 8.3 per cent , teacher training and education courses 7.7 per cent and with natural sciences having 6,8 per cent spaces of the foreign students .
Manyora believes the revenue muscle of foreign students is underutilised because the universities don’t offer courses which attract foreign students.
“These institutions have a chance of making billions in revenue collection from international students if they can generate attractive courses , and ease the process of applying for or renewing of student visas”, said Manyora .
The report suggests that besides identifying areas that will spike the number of international students, there is need for a stable academic calendar, a robust e-learning and formation of an international desk in each university to provide both academic and non-academic support for students.
Manyora said that if a three year course takes five years in an institution, it means something ought to be resolved.
