Kericho: Kenya Highlands University (KHU) Chancellor has called on universities nationwide to take a leading role in advancing Competency-Based Education (CBE), emphasizing the importance of higher education institutions in driving Kenya’s education reforms. The Chancellor made these remarks during KHU’s 15th graduation ceremony at the main campus in Kericho, where 670 graduands were awarded degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Robert Langat highlighted the transition from content-based to competency-based learning as an opportunity for universities to redefine their academic missions and national relevance. He urged institutions like Kenya Highlands University to spearhead the development, testing, and refinement of CBE models that address both national and global needs. Dr. Langat stated, ‘Universities must not remain spectators in this transformation. I want to urge Kenya Highlands University and others to lead the way in developing, testing, and refining competency-based education models.’
Dr. Langat further noted that effective university education should integrate theoretical knowledge with practical exposure, industry-aligned training, and research-driven innovation. He stressed that CBE aims to produce graduates capable of critical thinking and problem-solving rather than mere memorization. ‘A true university must be a center of research and innovation. Competency-based learning must enable graduates to analyze, create, and apply knowledge to solve problems in society,’ he said.
The Chancellor also emphasized the role of universities in enhancing Kenya’s global competitiveness by producing adaptable, skilled, and ethically anchored graduates. He called for creativity, innovation, and integrity to become core pillars of the country’s education system, urging institutions to intensify research, innovation, and collaboration. ‘The graduates we produce must be ready to offer solutions to contemporary challenges such as unemployment, climate change, governance, and technology adaptation,’ Dr. Langat remarked.
Dr. Langat underscored the importance of research in university training and the foundation of any viable CBE model. He challenged universities to cultivate cultures of inquiry, experimentation, and continuous curriculum review, asserting, ‘The essence of competency-based education is to nurture problem solvers – men and women who can think critically and work collaboratively to transform society.’
To ensure that learning outcomes align with national development goals such as Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Dr. Langat urged universities to enhance monitoring and evaluation systems. He advocated for stronger partnerships between universities, industries, and government agencies, citing collaborations between KHU and institutions like Bethel University (USA) and local partners as exemplars of effective CBE implementation.
Dr. Langat also highlighted the need to maintain a focus on moral education alongside technical skills, stressing that values-based learning should not be neglected. ‘We are a highly educated nation, yet corruption and moral decay are evident in many sectors. Education must therefore go beyond skills it must shape character,’ he cautioned.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Langat reminded the nation that education is a long-term investment that fosters economic resilience, ethical awareness, and social transformation. He called on universities to position themselves as engines of national renewal, stating, ‘Our universities must become hubs of transformation, driving sustainable development through practical knowledge and integrity.’
The event, themed ‘Transformed to Transform: Equipped with Knowledge and Sent to Serve,’ was attended by prominent figures including Council Chair Dr. Irene Ashenga, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Kiplangat, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, parents, and church leaders. Kenya Highlands University, sponsored by the Africa Gospel Church, continues to integrate teaching, research, innovation, and values formation, reinforcing its role in producing competent, ethical, and globally competitive graduates.
