The Role of Kenya’s Formal Higher Education in Sustainable Development Within the Context of Globalization

Abstract

In a developing nation like Kenya, an effective formal higher education system is essential for national development. The demand for university education in Kenya has increased in the past few decades. It is generally acknowledged that globalization has created tremendous impact on higher education in the twenty-first century. The paper seeks to determine whether the current education system in Kenya’s formal higher education institutions is preparing students to address global sustainability challenges. To a large extent, most higher learning institutions in Kenya have remained local in their practice and operations and this sets a problematic precedence in the era of globalization. This paper analyses the impact of globalization on formal education system in Kenya, with a focus on higher education. It analyses the changes globalization has brought to the system and its influence in preparing people for sustainability challenges. The effect of globalization pressures on education, the socio-economic and inequalities that constitute justice and human rights are also examined. The paper concludes by reassessing the impact of globalization on education reform in Kenya.