Maseno University, Maseno University founded in 1991, is the only university on the globe that lies along the Equator (00). It is one of the seven public universities in Kenya. The University is located in Maseno Township along Kisumu-Busia road, 25 km from Kisumu City and approximately 400 km west of Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. The University also shares its boundaries with Vihiga and Kisumu County.
Maseno University currently has four Campuses, a College and a Constituent College. Maseno Main Campus is in Maseno Township 25km from Kisumu on the Busia road. The core activities and central administration of the University takes place on this Campus. Homa Bay Campus is located at the SONYACO Plaza in Homa Bay town. Through this Campus, the University caters for the ever expanding demand for University education in the region. The eCampus is one of the latest innovations by Maseno University to facilitate online delivery of high quality certificate, diploma and degree programmes to learners in various parts of the country, the East African region and beyond. All programmes offered at the eCampus are primarily delivered through the internet, with students taking sit-in on-campus examinations at the end of each Semester. Kisumu City Campus College (former City Campus) became a College of Maseno University in December 2010. The College is within the Central Business District of Kisumu City and is exclusively served by a spacious parking yard situated directly opposite Kisumu Hotel (Maseno University). Bondo University College (former Bondo Teachers Training College) became a Constituent College of Maseno University in December 2008.
The name “Maseno” was coined by Rev. J.J. Willis out of the name of a tree known in local dialects as “Oseno” or “Oluseno” that stood next to the spot where the first missionaries in the region erected their base.
Maseno University’s history begun with the merging of Maseno Government Training Institute (GTI) with Siriba Teacher’s Training College to form Maseno University College as a Constituent College of Moi University. This led to its subsequent gazetting in October 1990 crowning the two institutions’ several decades of meritorious existence. It became a full-fledged University 11 years later, in 2001.
The University offers undergraduate and post-graduate programs in different disciplines at the following faculties and schools:
•Â Â Â School of Arts and Social Sciences
•Â Â Â School of Education
•Â Â Â School of Biological & Physical Science
•Â Â Â School of Public Health and Community Development
•Â Â Â School of Environment and Earth Sciences
•Â Â Â School of Development and Strategic Studies
•Â Â Â School of Business and Economics
•Â Â Â School of Medicine
•Â Â Â School of Agriculture and Food Security
•Â Â Â School of Mathematics and Actuarial Science
•Â Â Â School of Computing and Informatics
•Â Â Â School of Planning & Archtecture
•Â Â Â Institute of Gender Studies
Maseno is a Public University, established by an Act of Parliament in 1991. In 2000 it was elevated to a fully fledged University. The current Vice-Chancellor of the University is ProfessorJulius Omondi Nyabundi.
Alongside its academic programmes the University also manages enterprises such as the Kisumu Hotel and the University farm where it produces agricultural products which are used within the university and the surplus supplied to markets around.
Maseno University is a modern institution of higher learning set up to advance teaching, learning, research and development that responds to the emerging socio-economic as well as technological and innovation needs of Kenya and the Eastern African Region. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julius Omondi Nyabundi, Maseno University has embarked on a mission to develop and deliver academic programmes that not only respond to the needs of industry but also prepare workers for the knowledge economy, in line with the Vision 2030. The programmes offered by Maseno University (referred to as ‘With IT’ programmes) ensure that all graduates of Maseno are adequately exposed to a knowledge-base that enables them to live, learn and work in a multi-disciplinary setting where ICT is as much a resource for learning and working, as it is a discipline in its own right.
Currently, Maseno University has a total student enrolment of 21,000 registered at the Main Campus, Kisumu City Campus College and Homa Bay Campus. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Mary J. Kipsat, indicates that this number is expected to grow significantly with the launch and expansion of the eCampus of Maseno University that offers academic programmes through the Internet and other modern technologies to all who qualify, regardless of their physical location. Maseno University is therefore on track in globalising University education and providing high quality life-long learning opportunities, a deviation from the tradition of delimiting admission to physical availability of bed and tuition space at the University.
Vision
The University of Excellence in discovery and dissemination of knowledge.
Mission
To discover, harness, apply, disseminate and preserve knowledge for good of humanity.
Maseno University continues to play key role in the development of human capital to facilitate requirements for implementation of global and national development agenda, for the realisation of Vision 2030 among other strategic milestones. In the last five years (2013-2017), the University has made remarkable progress, and subsequently redefined its focus within its mission and vision to draw its long term development plans. With the global economy increasingly becoming competitively knowledge based, critical considerations for the place of higher education in social, economic and sound political development must constantly be kept in focus. Higher education is today a significant tool for most global and national investments towards realising enhanced productivity, social and economic growth. The University is well positioned to contribute to progressive research and innovation in an effort to achieve knowledge products, represented by research translation to production and development.
Development of this Strategic plan, 2017 – 2022, therefore answers the question of how Maseno University can reposition itself to meet emerging academic and
development challenges in Kenya. This has been done through evaluation of the institutional strengths and environmental opportunities so as to professionally handle
what would otherwise emanate as weakness and threats. In doing this, different stakeholders’ opinions and industry practitioner’s contributions have been infused for
vigilant focus on variety of knowledge and skills demand. I appreciate and acknowledge the contribution of all the Faculties and operating Divisions of the
University in their valuable support to the process and structure of this Strategic Plan. I wish to further acknowledge the strategic Planning Committee for their dedication
and commitment to the successful compilation of the plan; the University Management and Senate for the courage to face the next five years with commitment to achieve
new growth. The University Council as custodians of University policy has also constructively contributed to the Plan during its entire development process, for which
I remain grateful to them.
Service Charter
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY
The administrative structure of the University is designed to provide efficient and effective service. The Student is the
focal point of all the major activities of the University.
We provide the following services:
1. Training students for various degree and diploma courses
2. We undertake collaborative research
3. We provide technical backstopping to institutions/organizations
4. We provide a repository for knowledge
OUR COMMITMENT
To make sure you receive a high quality service, we have made these commitments to you:
• We will create a welcoming atmosphere in our reception areas.
• We will provide a courteous, friendly and informative service within the Centre and in all dealings with all customers.
• We will develop and support our staff to deliver these commitments.
• We will attend to you as soon as possible.
• We will deal with your inquiries professionally and politely.
• We will listen to your views and suggestions on service, facility and equipment provision, and programmes and deal with any complaints quickly.
• If we cannot answer your questions ourselves, we will put you in touch with someone who can help you.
• We aim to get the service right first time.
• We aim to deal with your inquiry at the first point of contact.
• We will endeavour to communicate widely and effectively to members about any promotions and developments and opening hours, etc. in the Centre.
• We will set standards based on feedback, measure how well we meet them and publish the results.
HOW TO GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK
We encourage our clients to give us a feedback on timelines, quality and responsiveness of our services. Genuine
complaints, suggestions or compliments should be channeled through the address given in this charter or deposited
on the suggestion box located at the Reception.
Please tell us what you think of our services and standards and whether you think we are meeting them. We would
appreciate any comments and/or criticism you may have.