Strathmore University - Is Is the New Kenyan Elite University?

Strathmore University was granted a Universityspeakers have included the famed Harvard strategy
charter barely a few years ago and it is alreadyguru Michael E. Porter as well as renowned business
causing ripples in the higher education sector in theprofessors in the world's elite business school.
country. For a long time the University mainlyHowever, on this front it faces competition from
operated as a college teaching accounting andUSIU-A business school which has both the talent and
computer courses. However, all that changed since itcapacity to match it. For instance, USIU has an
was granted powers to offer University levelendowment fund of about 300 million shillings
courses.dedicated to business education. It also has captains
Of course, its still a young University and hence itof industry among its alumni. One such person is
may be too early to judge. However, some of itsVimal Shah, the CEO of Bidco Oil limited. It is also
strengths and attributes are worth mentioning. Thereclosely associated with Manu Chandaria, who gave a
is no doubt that the University is renowned forpersonal gift to the University.
business and IT related courses. Its MBA programEven as the University aspires for world class status,
now competes on an equal pedestal with theand increasing its financial muscle, it must take care
country's best business schools such as UON andnot to water down the quality of its programs as has
USIU-A.However, its MBA program seems to behappened with the public Universities which have
gaining momentum by the day. It attracts seasonedabandoned their scholarly pursuits and instead now
professionals from across the world. Some of theact as money minting ventures.