How to Increase African Universities Funding

 Many African universities are grappling with decreased funding from their governments. This has seen many African universities launch the self sponsored programs, but due to the competition for students this income stream too is becoming jeopardized. This has forced many African universities to look for income generating schemes that can supplement the fee paid by the universities. One such university that has expanded is Kenya's Moi University, located in the western town of Eldoret.

To realize its aims of economic self sufficiency, four mega agricultural projects will be launched soon under the Moi University development unit (MUDU). The projects dubbed MUDU flowers, MUDU Dairies, MUDU Fruits and MUDU Poultry will be undertaken with support of partners from an Israeli Consortium of businessmen with expertise in Agribusiness. This was
revealed by the Vice Chancellor Prof Richard Mibey in Main campus while receiving a report from a technical committee which was mandated to develop the blue print of the projects. The committee was led by Prof Paul Chepkuto who is the DVC planning and development.

Prof Mibey said that the decision to undertake the projects was informed by the need to generate additional income to the university. “Government funding to universities has declined over the years and therefore there is need to seek alternative sources of income. We have 3,000 acres of land but we are using only about 500 which leave 2500 acres that can be utilized for Agriculture,” said Prof Mibey. He said money from self sponsored parallel degree programs caters for 50% of the university budget but may not be reliable in the long run. “We can’t continue relying on PSSP because we are no longer the only University in this region. 

There are 14 other Universities competing with us meaning the student population may decline,” he added.
The projects will be launched within four months with value addition of the produce as the main target. The Israeli partners will offer their expertise as well as assist in marketing the produce internationally. The first produce is expected to be out by the end of the year with projections of income to the university increasing up to five times within 3 years. Prof Mibey said the development of the University and the country at large depends on the skills and expertise of the manpower available within the University.