Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is under probe for awarding 118 doctoral degrees (PhDs) to graduates last Friday.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) announced that it would conduct an investigation into the matter following public outcry faulting the procedures followed in granting the prestigious academic qualification.
It is alleged that one JKUAT professor supervised more than 10 PhD students in the School of Entrepreneurship, Procurement and Management against CUE'srequirement of three students per lecturer.
Some of the publications or refereed journals where the graduates published their works have also been put to question.
A refereed journal contains scholarly articles that have been reviewed for their quality by recognized academics or experts in the field.
The Commission will look at the procedures the graduates used to defend their research works before JKUAT lecturers, the supervision of the course among others as it moves to maintain the credibility of doctorate and Master’s degree courses awarded by universities in Kenya.
CUE chairman Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha Tuesday affirmed that they would look into all aspects that led into the award of the PhDs even as the university came out boldly to defend its integrity. He added that the Commission would not tolerate any shortcuts.
“We are on the ground to look at these doctorates and we will take necessary action if we find that the law was not followed,” commission chairman remarked.
CUE requires that all Masters students publish at least a paper in a refereed journal while PhD counterparts are expected to release two before they graduate.
Kenyans questioned why the university produced many PhDs in business related studies yet few in innovation and technology which the university is well-recognized for.
JKUAT's administration has firmly defended the award of the degrees.
“All degrees of the university are meritoriously earned and no student is allowed to graduate without going through the due process,” countered Prof Robert Kinyua, the acting deputy vice-chancellor (academic affairs).
