By Kurian Musa.
Egerton University Management has held a consultative meeting with officials of the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Egerton University Chapter, to deliberate on issues affecting staff, students and the overall performance of the institution.
The meeting was led by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. George Muthaa, alongside the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Research and Extension, Prof. Bernard Aduda, and the Acting Registrar, Human Capital Administration, Leonard Chesang, among other senior Management staff who are also members of the UASU Chapter.
The union delegation was led by Chapter Chairman Dr Patrick Mulerwa, Secretary General Dr Grace Kibue and Organising Secretary Dr Noah Kiveu.
Engaging Discussions: Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George Muthaa, and Union Officials engage in fruitful discussions during the meeting
The engagement provided a platform for constructive dialogue between University Management and the union leadership, with discussions focusing on staff concerns, institutional collaboration, improved service delivery and adherence to the principles of good governance.
A key issue raised during the meeting was the challenge of missing students' marks in the University's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, largely attributed to delays by lecturers in marking examination scripts and submitting marks within the stipulated timelines.
"Missing marks is a thing of the past. If any, is an isolated case," Prof. Aduda noted.
The meeting underscored the need for lecturers to adhere to established deadlines for marking and submission of examination results to minimise cases of missing marks and the inconveniences experienced by students.
Participants also emphasised the importance of maintaining updated marksheets at faculty level and preserving records from previous academic years to facilitate verification, tracking and timely resolution of queries.
A Moment of Camaraderie: A light moment between the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George Muthaa, Deputy Vice-Chancellors (DVCs), and Union Officials in the Chancellor’s Chambers.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Research and Extension, Prof. Bernard Aduda, thanked UASU members for their support in addressing complaints arising from lecturer-student interactions, particularly concerns relating to examination marking and delayed submission of marks.
He acknowledged the importance of cooperation between the union and University Management in handling such matters, noting that collective efforts are essential in ensuring students' concerns are addressed and academic processes run smoothly.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. George Muthaa, emphasised that teamwork was key to achieving the University's objectives and maintaining a harmonious working environment.
Building Stronger Partnerships: The Acting Vice-Chancellor, DVCs, and Union Officials share cordial interactions, reflecting mutual respect and collaboration.
He urged the union leadership and members to recognise their role as an integral part of University Management and work collaboratively towards the common good of the institution.
Prof. Muthaa called for continued engagement, mutual understanding and collective responsibility, noting that a strong working relationship between Management and the union was necessary for addressing institutional challenges and advancing the University's mandate.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of professionalism and emotional intelligence in managing workplace relationships, particularly when handling disciplinary matters.
Participants were encouraged to exercise patience, fairness and restraint, noting that temporary frustrations and personal disagreements should not compromise institutional responsibilities or undermine relationships among colleagues.
Further discussions emphasised the need for stronger teamwork, volunteerism and collective responsibility. Staff were encouraged to take initiative, participate actively in institutional activities and contribute towards building a united workforce.
Ag. HCA Leonard Chesang noted the important role of union leadership in mobilising staff, fostering constructive engagement and promoting a shared institutional vision.
On information sharing, Management reiterated the importance of transparency, accountability and openness as fundamental principles of good governance.
The Acting VC Prof Muthaa emphasised that accurate and relevant information should be communicated promptly and made available to the appropriate stakeholders as and when required.
The meeting noted that effective communication builds trust, promotes mutual understanding and enables staff to make informed decisions.
Both parties were encouraged to uphold responsible information-sharing practices and maintain constructive channels of communication.
The engagement reaffirmed the shared responsibility of University Management, union leadership and staff in advancing Egerton University's institutional objectives.
Both parties recognised the need to strengthen collaboration, address emerging challenges collectively and remain focused on delivering quality services to students and other stakeholders.
The discussion ended with concurrence that through continued dialogue, teamwork, transparency and collective responsibility, Egerton University shall foster a harmonious working environment, strengthening institutional systems and advancing its mandate of teaching, research, extension and community engagement.
By Kurian Musa
Communication Officer
