Implications of Enhancing Access to Higher Education for Quality Assurance: the Phenomenon of Study Centres of Kenyan Universities

This study sought to accomplish three objectives: to examine the expansion of access to university education in Kenya; to examine the implications of expansion of access for the quality of university education; and to develop a model showing interrelationships between the expansion of access and quality assurance, based on lessons learnt from study centres established by both public and private universities in the country. The study was based on literature review, which was augmented by key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observation. It revealed that the study centres marked a great stride in opening access to higher education, especially for the working class, and in increasing the number of graduates from secondary schools, provided facilities for face to face tuition and a range of benefits to their host communities. However, the centres also face difficulties in relation to physical structures, learning resources, staffing and retention of students.Keywords: Massification; Study centres; Quality assuranc