The Ministry of Education has begun moving toward rolling out Competency-Based Education (CBE) in universities, with plans that could reshape how university courses get designed, taught, and assessed.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, August 18, the State Department for Higher Education called on consultants to help develop a framework to guide the adoption of CBE in universities, building on the approach already used in primary and secondary schools. The department said the assignment will support the Commission for University Education (CUE) as it reviews and prepares the framework for implementation.
“The services to be included under this project are to support the Commission for University Education in the review, validation, development, implementation, and operationalization of a University Competence-Based Education (CBE) Framework in Kenya that enhances the quality, relevance, employability, innovation capacity, and industry responsiveness of university education,” the notice stated.
The process is expected to take 12 months, which would place completion of the CBE framework beyond 2026, even though Higher Education Secretary Carol Hunja previously said in March that the rollout would finish by the end of the year.
Under the proposed approach, the ministry plans to introduce clearer learning outcomes and define graduate skill profiles for different academic disciplines, guided by professional and industry requirements. As a result, students may eventually see changes in course content, teaching methods, assessment styles, and the skills they must demonstrate before graduation.
The ministry also plans to review university programmes to determine how well they align with the skills employers need and the country’s development priorities.
The framework will also provide guidance on curriculum development, teaching, assessment, practical learning, digital education, and other approaches for delivering university courses. Each university will undergo an assessment to determine its readiness for the new model and to flag areas where it may need additional support or resources.
Alongside the framework, the ministry has advertised a separate six-month consultancy to evaluate lecturers’ teaching skills, digital capabilities, and preparedness for CBE. The exercise will point to areas where university educators may need further training and professional development before the new system rolls out.
Consultants have until September 7 to submit expressions of interest for both projects as the ministry continues preparations for CBE implementation in universities.
