COVID 19 has caused lots of disruptions and altered the way our business has been done including business models for public universities, which have experienced serious financial problems. Public universities have a combined deficit of around 4.5 billion shillings, because the pandemic has caused a massive reduction of the national productivity and hence reduction of taxes. The same challenge is affecting other institutions and governments, a situation which calls for innovative ways of remaining afloat and relevant going forward.
It was British Historian Toynbee who remarked that “the overall idea of history and civilization has been that of challenges and response”, it has been observed that throughout history of civilization, societies that adequately addressed and overcome their challenges, including deadly diseases, survived and grew, while those that were unable to cope with the challenges became extinct, and missed the next phase of human development. COVID 19 therefore presents an opportunity for universities to be innovative in delivering their mandates, even as the pandemic continues. They have to undertake infrastructural and structural adjustments, including accelerating the use of mobile telephony and increasing network uptake. This can be done through working with partners under Public Partnerships (PPPs) models to deepen the penetration of internet and related infrastructure, including the internet of things. Such partnerships should encourage more investments in cyber infrastructure among others, and in the process employing many young people and crating platforms for digital education and take off in the country.
Universities should also turn to massive research in partnerships with local and international stakeholders including on behavioural aspects behind the spread of diseases like COVID and others despite the many interventions made so far. Research opportunities range from suitable economic models for wealth creation, political systems, indigenous knowledge and manufacturing, in addition to university publishing entities. Publishing is necessitated by the need for development of local content which when mixed with functional university enterprises for consultancies, business development, conference centres and hotels will diversify sources of funds away from traditional sources. Some research has shown also the need for application of stimulus plans for such institutions of higher learning for quick economic recovery. Efforts should be developed to foster faster recovery and innovation, while ensuring practical, technical and educational capacities that can in future enhance non-face –to – face education, including capacities for proper monitoring and evaluation of academic progress
Dr. Daniel Mutegi Giti 