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Vol. 5 No. 1 (2023)
FOREWORD
This Journal aptly named, “The University Journal” is a consequence of a protracted debate
among the members of the Doctoral Association of Eastern Africa (DAEA) on the need to
provide a channel through which Academicians and practitioners can exchange ideas with the
sole aim of positively impacting on society through research. At DAEA, we recognize that part
of the problem with Kenya and wider African continent is that majority of our research work
are not driven by third party (the consuming community) but personal needs. It is no wonder
that most research output continue to gather “dust” in our Universities Africanas and/or the
modern electronic thesis/project databases. A number of our universities continue to churn out
highly ‘know-ledged’ people with higher degrees and yet their impact has not been felt in equal
measure by Society. There has been increasingly no incentive for both the public and private
sector to rush in embrace for our products!
Yes, we recognize that role of the University is to teach and research but in the modern times,
teaching and researching without reference to societal needs is one sure way of wasting our
countries’ scarce resources, resources that would otherwise be used for change infusing
endeavors. We at DAEA are very pleased that this Journal is presenting its 3
issue. We are also very excited that this issue has attracted papers from diverse disciplines.
Historically, society has looked at Universities as generators of quality knowledge with
requisite potential to drive positive change. In a number of countries, Universities have lived
up to this expectation by being centres of reference by both the public and private sectors both
for evidence-based advice and quality personnel. In Kenya just as in majority of sub-Saharan
Africa, there is little evidence that the research output has been meaningfully used to derive
change. There is, to say the least, a seeming mismatch between research in academia and
societal needs, and this is where “The University Journal” comes in.
Welcome to Volume 5 Issue 1 of ‘The University Journal”: a peer-refereed academic Journal
designed to enable research make societal sense. With its broad scope, this Journal is dedicated
to developmental challenges and not simple research topics to provide a platform through
which academia and other researchers meet the expectations of the greater community for
societal good.
This issue includes several papers which invariably determine the face of the journal and set
the stage for subsequent issues that will publish intended only to impact on societal change. At
the same time, research papers included in this issue exemplify the kinds of papers that the
journal will favor.
Using this publication platform, the association would like to thank the many people who
created the opportunity for the journal to be born and who made it happen. We at DAEA
welcome you to take advantage of this very unique journal to link with your peers and all other
stakeholders both in the public and private sectors.
The Chairman,
Doctoral Association of Eastern Africa
Email: Membership@daea.or.ke
August 2022.
