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The Role of Academic Libraries in Webometrics Ranking of Universities in Kenya
No full textRole of Academic Libraries in Webometrics RankingAcademic institutions now operate in highly competitive environments. Consequently, myriad mechanisms for rating the services and impact of universities have emerged as a means of influencing the choice of potential students, faculty and partners. Webometrics has emerged in the recent past as one of the most popular frameworks for measuring the impact of universities. This mechanism puts great emphasis on research productivity and dissemination. Academic libraries have developed and implemented strategies to enhance their ranking. The role and levels of involvement of academic libraries in these strategies is unclear. This study analysed the role of academic libraries in enhancing Webometrics ranking of their parent institutions. It also examined the degree to which libraries are currently involved in enhancing the Webometrics ranking of their institutions as well as how they can scale up their roles. This study was designed as an exploratory survey because webometrics is a relatively new concept. Primary data was collected through key informant interviews with academic librarians. The respondents were selected through information-oriented purposive sampling. Additional data was collected through literature review. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The study established that academic libraries in Kenya are, to a great extent, involved in webometrics strategies through the development of the institution’s repositories, generation of web content as well as publishing and providing access to updated e-resources. This involvement is effective because it facilitates enhanced scholarly communication, resolute institutional web presence, collaboration and networking among institutions, and ultimately endorsement of the institutions’ webometrics ranking. The involvement can be scaled up through effective ICT policies and infrastructure, continuous training, involvement in library consortia, and high quality content development. The findings of this study may be used by academic libraries to mainstream their role in enhancing the research productivity and impact of their institutions hence facilitating a favourable ranking
Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Mechanism: Awareness and Involvement of Staff and Students: A case of Marist International University College (MIUC).
No full textAbstractBetween October 2015 and April 2017, the School of Education, Kenyatta University in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) organized three capacity building workshops for its lecturers on Integration of ICT in teaching and learning. During the 3rd workshop held in March 2017 and whose focus was on online Assessment it was noted that despite the university’s investment in a Learning Management System (LMS) for online teaching and learning, lecturers had not utilized it for formative learner assessment. Consequently, even students enrolled in the distance learning mode would come to campus for their Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs). Therefore, it was agreed that after the training, the departments of Educational Psychology and Educational Management would play the role of trailblazers in giving online Continuous Assessments Tests (CATs) in the School of Education. In the 2nd semester of 2016/2017 academic year and the 1st semester of the 2017/2018 academic year, the two departments gave a total of four online CATS in four different units to over 9,000 undergraduate students. This innovation in assessment informed this study whose purpose was to document the views and experiences of both students and lecturers on online CATs. The objectives of the study were to: capture the views of students and lecturers about the online CATs; identify challenges hindering effectiveness of on-line CATs; document the lessons learnt from administering on-line CATs. The study embraced a mixed methods design that enabled collection and triangulation of quantitative data from students and qualitative data from lecturers. Quantitative data was collected from students through an online questionnaire while qualitative data was collected from lecturers through a Focus Group Discussion Guide. The results indicated that the students were initially apprehensive before the on-line CAT but after they were done a majority stated that they enjoyed the experience and would opt for such assessments in future. A majority of the students also praised the technical support given during the CAT, the immediate feedback and the sense of control of their marks.
Results from the lecturers also showed that that they were at first skeptical about mounting an on-line CAT. However, after the on-line CATs were given, their perception changed and they appreciated there was less work afterwards in terms of marking and grading. Lecturers also noted that on-line CATs enhanced the objectivity of the scores as they reduced human error. Challenges that hindered effectiveness of the on-line CATs were identified, namely: missing students’ registration numbers in the LMS making it difficult for lecturers to collate marks, slow internet during on-line CAT, faulty passwords for students, interruption from other students in computer lab and strict marking in the short answer items. The key lesson learnt is that online assessment confers benefits to the university, lecturers and students. The study concludes that the university has the resources (technical and human) to conduct online formative assessment. However, there is need for more capacity building of staff and students on online formative assessment. The University also needs to review its examination policy to embrace online assessment so as to cover possible malpracticessuch as cheating
Catalytic degradation of methylene blue by iron nanoparticles synthesized using Galinsoga parvifora, Conyza bonariensis and Bidens pilosa leaf extracts
Get PDF| https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1203-zGreen synthesized metallic nanoparticles are environmentally friendly, bio-compatible, and highly stable. The aim of this
study was to synthesize iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) from FeCl3 solution using aqueous leaf extracts of Galinsoga parvifora
(Gp), Conyza bonariensis (Cb) and Bidens pilosa (Bp) and use them in degradation of methylene blue dye. The iron nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Vis spectrophotometer, FT-IR spectrophotometer, X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF),
X-ray difractometer (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Phytochemical screening for presence of secondary
metabolites revealed presence of phenolics, phytosterols and favonoids. The total phenolic and favonoid content in
Galinsoga parvifora, Conyza bonariensis and Bidens pilosa leaf extracts were 57.67±1.27, 117.13±0.03, 126.27±0.013 mg
Gallic Equivalent/g of Dry Weight (mg GAE/g DW) and 39.00±0.56, 45.50±0.59, 33.13±0.81 mg Rutin Equivalent/g of
Dry Weight (mg RE/g DW) respectively. The UV–Vis spectrum of FeCl3 had a shoulder at 320 nm, which disappeared upon
addition of G. parvifora, C. bonariensis and B. pilosa extracts confrming formation of iron nanoparticles. Evaluation of
iron content of the synthesized nanoparticles revealed that the iron content in G. parvifora, C. bonariensis and B. pilosa
extracts was 51, 47 and 44% respectively. XRD data revealed presence of a large amorphous coating that masked iron
peaks, though 2 theta values observed have been reported to be of iron oxides. Methylene blue degradation studies
revealed that CbNPs, BpNPs and GpNPs synthesized were good biocatalysts as they degraded the dye by 86, 84.3 and
92% respectively. Therefore, green synthesized iron nanoparticles is cost efective and environmentally safe in providing
insight in the environmental removal of dyes
Capital Intensity and Financial Performance Of Manufacturing Companies Listed At Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Get PDFixed assets form a significant portion of a company’s expenses and instrumental in shaping probable returns for organizations. Capital intensity for manufacturing companies is vital in informing cost management and investment decisions. Companies are given tax allowances on fixed assets in the form of wear and tear, investment and industrial building deduction which provide tax credits with consequential effects of increasing organizational after-tax returns. Manufacturing sector is key to economic growth and Kenya is experiencing stagnate contribution of this sector to economic growth. Little literature is available that establishes the association between capital intensity and financial performance of the manufacturing sector. Therefore, this study sought to find out the relationship between capital intensity and financial performance for manufacturing companies listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange during the period 2010-2017. The study was anchored on tax planning theory, trade-off theory, agency cost theory and political power theory. The study adopted a positivism research philosophy and an explanatory research design. The target population of the study was all the nine listed manufacturing companies in NSE. Descriptive and inferential statistics was done using panel data and SPSS version 23 software for data analysis. The findings indicated that capital intensity has a positive insignificant association with financial performance. It concluded that capital intensity does not affect financial performance of manufacturing firms listed in Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study recommended that the companies should investment more in non- current assets so as to reap capital allowances tax benefits in order to improve their financial performance. The study will be beneficial to the management as it provides insights on how firms can increase their financial performance while leveraging on capital intensity
Effectiveness of School Boards in Managing Financial and Human Resources in Public Primary Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
Get PDFIn Kenya, educational reforms have resulted in Boards of Management replacing School Management Committees in overseeing the operations of basic education institutions. Boards of Management are charged with the mandate of administering and managing resources channeled to primary schools. Despite these legal provisions and the government’s financial support to the schools, is regrettable that dilapidated facilities, low performance and low morale among teaching and non-teaching staff continue to hamper the academic success of most primary schools in Kenya. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of BOMs in managing financial and human resources in public primary schools in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Twenty one head teachers and 196 BOM members drawn from 21 public primary schools in Nyeri County participated in the study. Data was collected through validated questionnaires for head teachers and members of BOMs. The study established that BOMs were not effective in overseeing financial management in the sampled schools. However, the study established that BOMs were effective in human resource management in the sampled primary schools. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should develop a policy framework that co
AJHSS - Volume 1, Issue 1 2019
No full textEDITORIAL :
In the recent past, corruption has become a highly publicized global phenomenon. The vice has been
declared not only a national disaster in various countries around the world, but also a threat to international
security. It has brought down national economies, institutions, and world elites. The Corruption Perception
Index 2015 indicates that more than six billion people live in a country with serious corruption problem.
While there is no clear solution to what corruption is, studies have defined it as a form of unethical
conduct, dishonesty, or illegitimate use of a position of authority to acquire personal gains. The cost of
corruption has impacted heavily on political, social, economic, and environmental spheres of humanity;
it has compromised people’s lives, freedoms, health, and wealth. Politically, corruption violates democracy
and the rule of law; therefore, corroding the legitimacy of public institutions and accountability of political
leadership. Economically, corruption erodes national wealth in which scarce public resources are looted by
selfish individuals therefore compromising community-based development. Socially, corruption corrodes
the society’s social fabric resulting to mistrust and unrest in political systems and institutions. Corrupt
systems have also compromised the enforcement on environmental regulations and legislations resulting
in indiscriminate exploitation and degradation of natural and ecological systems. Currently, the Kenya
government heightened the fight against corruption in the country. In an endeavour to explore this corrosive
global menace through multidisciplinary approaches, Karatina University’s first issue of the African Journal
of Humanities and Social Sciences focuses on the “The Menace of Corruption: Causes, Scope, Consequences,
and Remedies.” This first issue constitutes scholarly research and practical case studies from a diversity of
disciplines in humanities and social sciences. It is hoped that this journal will inform policy formulations
and help in addressing and perhaps reducing corruption towards making the world a better place to live in
Challenges facing Academic Libraries in Supporting Webometrics Ranking of Universities in Kenya
Get PDFWebometrics refers to the study of the quantitative aspects of the creation and usage of information resources, structures and technologies on the web drawing on bibliometric and infometric approaches. Across the world, libraries are committed to providing equal and rightful access to information. Therefore, libraries play a major role in influencing Webometrics ranking of universities across the world. Academic libraries influence Webometrics ranking through generation of scientific publications and other scholarly resources. Despite the remarkable success in Academic libraries’ influence on Webometrics ranking, there are a number of setbacks facing these libraries in the effective facilitation of Webometrics ranking. This study examined the challenges facing academic libraries in supporting Webometrics ranking of universities in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed
research design. The researcher collected data from a representative sample of 30 % of the entire target population in University of Nairobi, Chuka University and Kirinyaga University. The selection of the three universities was based on the most recent Webometrics rankings. The respondents were drawn from library, ICT and research Departments. Primary data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics that is frequency distribution tables to compute mean. The study established that Bureaucratic and connectivity barriers as well as substandard research and inadequate knowledge on Webometrics are the key challenges facing Kenyan academic libraries in supporting improved webometrics ranking. The findings of this study may be used by other institutions of higher learning on the mechanisms
they can adopt to increase the capacities of their academic libraries so as to improve the contribution of these libraries to Webometrics and consequently to the overall ranking of the individual universities nationally and internationally. The findings may also help policy makers and policy implementers to effectively understand the challenges facing academic libraries in supporting Webometrics ranking of universities in Kenya and hence improve opportunities for upscaling Webometrics in academic institutions
A Review of the Changing Nature of Corruption in Post-independent Kenya
Get PDFCorruption continues to be a major challenge to Kenya’s socio-economic and political development. Corruption has undergone a metamorphosis over the years. In the 1960s and 1970s, corruption was referred to in terms of “ten percent” whereby senior government officials allegedly used to demand a ten percent of the cost or value of any government project or tender from the successful bidders. However, since the 1990s corruption in the country has reached unprecedented high levels. This has been evident in mega corruption scandals such as the Goldenberg and the Anglo-Leasing, among others, in which the Government lost billions of Kenya shillings in fraudulent and fictitious business deals. Corruption in the country has become a culture and it permeates all aspects of life. The government over the years seems to have lost steam in the fight against corruption. The anti-corruption structures and institutions which have been established over the years have not achieved much. With the enactment of the new constitution in 2010, corruption has been devolved to the counties with the emergence of ‘eating chiefs’ in all parts of Kenya and not only in Nairobi as was previously the case. Many Kenyans seem to have accepted corruption as fait accompli. Most studies on corruption have focused on the financial and economic losses countries incur due to the menace. Very few studies have focused on the changing nature of corruption which is the focus of this article. The objectives of the article were: to trace the forms of corruption in Kenya; examine the challenges in the war on corruption in Kenya; and to suggest effective measures that could be used in dealing with corruption and its effects. The article adopted a single exploratory case study, which was predominantly qualitative, incorporating extensive use of written documents. The study findings are: First, institutions that have been created to deal with corruption in Kenya have been largely stillborn and have demonstrated ineptitudes in dealing with corruption. Secondly, the state has failed to adopt more effective measures to effectively deal with the menace. The study contributes to the current debate on corruption and its impact on African States as outlined by Transparency International in its 2016 report
Influence of Fiscal Asymmetric Decentralization on Household Effects—A Review of Recent Literature.
Get PDFFulltext Journal ArticleThe study is in line with Oates (1951), where fiscal decentralization is explained as the delegation of income and con-sumption powers from the central government to the devolved units, both local and national levels within the framework of decentralization. Fiscal decentralization is considered to be the panacea in eradicating poverty, particularly in devel-oping countries. This review entails the assessment of the influence of fiscal asymmetric decentralization on household effects. Specifically, the review looks at the interaction between budget efficacy, fiscal policy, and county treasury man-agement and household effects. Despite the fact that scholarly work has been conducted on all the concepts, arguably inadequate attention has been given to the influence of fiscal asymmetric decentralization on household effects. Further-more, scanty information was found on revenue disparity or financial planning attributes. In addition, not much has been done on fiscal control by subnational governments and self-fiscal reliance as counties continue to rely on funding from the national governments although counties have considerable potential to generate their own revenue. The challenges of comprehensive results are observed, and the study concludes that it appears critical to focus more on analysis that will establish the link of control theory and practice, which will need more firm and integrative study process
Rent-seeking and Taxation Pilfering in Kenya: Impact on Post-colonial Economy
Get PDFKenyans have witnessed taxation injustice since the colonial period. At the onset, colonial taxation in Kenya materialized as an instrument of submission, governance and of economic exploitation. It is through taxation that the peasantry and the working class was formed, fashioned and captured by the state. Within the post-colonial state, and in association with the comprador bourgeoisie and the political elite, their daily discourse and clichés, skulks around - ‘Whose goat have I eaten?’ Where is the place of the subaltern citizen? Who bears the burden of taxes and who benefits from public programmes? Do taxpayers have a role in the appropriation of revenue collected? How have taxation policies affected the everyday life of the subaltern citizen? The Gramscian model of the subaltern collective marginalization by the hegemonic ruling classes and Hirschman’s representation of exit, voice and loyalty perspective guides the thinking behind this article. Do hegemonic taxpayers have exit or voice options? Retrospectively, independence did not certainly alter the parasitic nature of the colonial state. Subtle and opportunistic systems continue to be exploited by both central and county governments to project regressive taxes. This article examines the basics of taxation pilfering in Kenya and argues that the postcolonial state remains predatory, hence the urgency to deconstruct the tax regime