• Receive and facilitate the processing of international applications and enrolment of international students.
• Advisory services to local and international student summer programme of courses
• International mobility of students (e.g. for internships, study-abroad and student exchange programmes, graduate research, etc)
• Maintenance of international students and staff statistics within the University
• International Scholarly Exchange Programme (e.g. visiting scholar programmes, etc)
• Joint International research projects (in liaison with the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Extension)
• Special study programmes (involving study leave, sabbatical, etc).
• Co-ordinate visits to Moi University by international scholars
• Facilitate, nurture and sustain links between Moi University and other universities outside Kenya
• Promotion and marketing of academic programmes of Moi University
• Provide support services for International students and staff.
• Internationalisation of Moi University curricular
• Creation of special centres for country and regional studies
• International joint degree programmes
• International conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.
• Open Learning Programmes and Information Technology (e.g. Internet Programmes).

The guiding principle in the implementation strategies is that the various activities of IPO should be self-sustainable geared towards revenue generation to meet operational costs while leaving a modest surplus for institutional investment. The over-arching goal is to achieve sustainable internationalisation of the university. 1. Implementation of International Programmes Office mandates

1.1 International Summer Programme of courses

International Summer Programme of courses involves courses designed for international students and run by various academic units of the university. IPO co-ordinates the programme, including course development, advertisement (marketing) etc, for which it earns revenue.

1.2 Reception and Processing of Applications from International Students

• International Programmes Office provides prompt advisory services to international students as guidance to academic programmes they may wish to pursue at Moi University.
• IPO receives international applications and co-ordinates with relevant Deans for speedy processing. Applicants are informed of the outcome within a period of 6 weeks.
• University admissions requirements for international students comply with the Senate-approved regulations that govern all admissions
• Applications are received 6 weeks prior to the commencement of any given academic programme and processed for admission into that programme.
• Every applicant pays a non-refundable application fee as follows:
  • East African applicants US$10
  • COMESA applicants US$20
  • Applicants from the rest of Africa US$30
  • Applicants from overseas (e.g. USA, U.K. Japan etc) US$40

International mobility of students

While it is easier for university students in developed countries to travel abroad on student exchange programmes, the same is not true for their counterparts in developing countries. In the USA and Europe for example, there are specific organisations with the sole purpose of funding costs of students on exchange programmes. It is vital for local students to travel abroad partly as a marketing strategy for the university. However, they also return home with valuable experiences, which they may share with the rest of the local students. In this way, even those local students who do not themselves go abroad acquire an "internationalised feeling".

To achieve this IPO in liaison with other relevant Departments/Officers is exploring avenues of setting up a Moi University funding mechanism geared towards increasing the number of local students who participate in student exchange programmes. Towards this end University should resolve to provide seed money to start the fund. IPO is developing a framework for soliciting of funds from donor agencies, multinationals and other organisations. Nevertheless self-sponsorship and cost sharing by the students is encouraged. The long-term goal is to create an endowment fund to cater for student exchange activities.

1.4 International Students and staff statistics within the University

IPO maintains accurate and up-to-date records of international students and staff in the university at any given time.

1.5 International Mobility of Staff

Scholarly exchange programmes are recognised as a key component of internationalisation and provide unique opportunities for local staff to participate in activities of partner overseas institutions for specified periods. This gives exposure to participants to acquire valuable experience on how others handle day-to-day issues related, for example, to students and academic programmes. Such comparative lessons are put to use for the benefit of the home institution. IPO recognises that lack of funding mechanism is a clear hindrance to local staff wishing to participate in international mobility. IPO in conjunction with relevant units of the university and external donor agencies is exploring avenues of setting up sustainable funding mechanism (Endowment fund) for international staff mobility.

a) IPO actively sensitises local staff about opportunities that exist and benefits that accrue from academic staff exchange programmes. The Scholarly Exchange Programme incorporates special study programmes such as study leave, sabbatical, etc. IPO is fully equipped with information regarding departmental/faculty needs for scholar support and liaises with relevant university organs to source for the same from international partner institutions.

1.6 Co-ordination of visits to Moi University by international scholars

The following procedures are operational with regard to visits by international scholars:

• The host faculty (Department) reports promptly to the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Extension) about the intended visit in liaison with IPO.
• When notifying the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (R and E) about the intended visit, the host department provides full information, regarding the visit (e.g. whether it could lead to formalisation of relations through a codified Memorandum of Understanding, who will pay for the expenses, whether it is on exchange programme or on an already-signed MOU, whether the visitor is likely to give a professional public lecture, what benefits the university stands to reap, etc).
• The host department justifies the expenditure, if any, and secures approval from the Deputy Vice Chancellor (R and E) in advance, before the arrival of the visitor(s). The host department takes the responsibility of ensuring that:
  • The visitor is booked for accommodation as per the visitor's requirements.
  • The visitor is received on arrival in Eldoret/Nairobi.
  • A tentative programme of the visit is prepared (in liaison with IPO) to be available one week before the arrival of the visitor.
  • A brief report is submitted to the Deputy Vice Chancellor's (R and E) Office by the host Department shortly after the visit.

1.7 Memoranda of Understanding

• International relations between institutions that are properly codified through Memoranda of Understanding form an important facet of internationalisation.
• IPO spearheads the university's process of seeking and nurturing linkages.
• Departments or Faculties are the initiating points of linkages in order to accurately determine the areas of co-operation and terms of participation.
• To steadily increase the volume of linkages, IPO in liaison with respective academic departments strives to nurture at least one linkage every month. The search for the linkages is in the order of: East Africa, COMESA, the rest of Africa and beyond (provided that linkages can be pursued from any part of the world at any time as and when opportunities arise).
• Every Department is required to maintain at least one viable linkage at any given time.
• Staff returning from overseas studies or conferences, scholarly exchange programmes, etc are required to secure contacts and work in conjunction with IPO or their Departments in developing linkages with their former host institutions.
• IPO works out the final terms of the Memorandum of Understanding in consultation with the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R & E) (Management), the Department or Faculty concerned and the university's legal office.
• Once a linkage is secured, a co-ordinator is appointed to ensure its sustainability and provide quarterly reports on its operations to DVC (R & E).

1.8 Promotion and Marketing of Academic Programmes

• A major function of IPO and its sustainability is linked to successful marketing of the university's academic programmes. IPO's vision is to propel the university to international recognition as a leading reputable destination in Africa for international students by the year 2014.
• The marketing of academic programmes is spearheaded by IPO in conjunction with all teaching departments.
• Faculties are required to set up faculty-based committees charged with the specific responsibility of developing marketing strategies and materials for academic programmes.
• Using information generated by Faculties IPO on periodic basis produces high quality prospectus of all university academic programmes for distribution to strategic overseas institutions or organisations.
• The university through IPO strives to participate in selected and strategic international education fairs through through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Promotion and marketing fairs are held on yearly basis in East African region with a view to substantially increasing the enrolment of students from the region by the year 2014.
• Moi University academic programmes are advertised in suitable dailies, periodicals, journals, etc, within the COMESA countries and beyond.
• IRM is mandated to co-ordinate and upload on the Internet marketing academic information submitted by faculties.
• IRM is in charge of the website including its maintenance, updating of academic information, etc to avoid haphazard presentation of information by individual faculties/schools/departments.

1.9 Support Services to international staff and students

a) A concrete sustainable package of support services is in place to serve as an added attraction to international staff and students to the university. The package includes information on:

• Airport Reception and Ticket confirmation
• Accommodation
• Health Services
• Academic Support services (e.g. language instruction)
• International Association of students
• International Alumni
• International cultural events
• Local tours
• Counselling services

b) That long-term plans are for the development of an international Guest and Conference Centre, not only to enhance the delivery of support services and to provide unique opportunities for student internships (attachment) but also to encourage the hosting of money-generating international events (e.g. seminars, workshops, conferences, etc).

Administrative Officer
International Programmes Office (IPO),
Moi University,
P.O. Box 3900,
Tel: 254-053-43620
Fax: 254-053-43047
Eldoret, Kenya.
eMail: ipo@mu.ac.ke

Back Home