Type Public University Campus Rural Address Njoro, Kenya Total enrollment 13,000 (2010) Founded 1939 | Established 1939 Website Homepage Undergraduate tuition and fees 120,000 KES (2010) Phone +254 707 635506 Vice-chancellor Rose Mwonya | |
Location Njoro, Nakuru, Kenya
0°22'11.0"S, 35°55'58.0"E Similar Moi University, Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University, Maseno University | ||
Egerton University is a public university in Kenya. Its website states that it is the oldest institution of higher education in Kenya.
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Location
The main campus of the university is located in Njoro, a small community approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi), southwest of the town of Nakuru. This is located approximately 182 kilometres (113 mi), by road, northwest of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. The coordinates of the university main campus are:0°22'11.0"S, 35°55'58.0"E (Latitude:-0.369734; Longitude:35.932779).
History
The school was founded in 1939, and was originally named Egerton Farm School. It was established by a large land grant of 740 acres (3 km²) by Maurice Egerton, 4th Baron Egerton of Tatton. The school's original purpose was to prepare white European youth for careers in agriculture. By 1955, the name had changed to Egerton Agricultural College. A one-year certificate course and a two-year diploma course in agriculture were offered. In 1958, Lord Egerton donated another 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of land. Soon afterwards, the college opened its doors to people of all races from Kenya and other African countries.
In 1979, with support from the Government of Kenya and USAID, the college expanded yet again, becoming part of the University of Nairobi system. In 1987, the college was recognized as a chartered public university.
Multiple campuses
Egerton University has four campuses, one of them being a constituent college.
- The main Campus is based at Njoro and houses the faculties of Agriculture, Arts & Social Sciences, Education & Community Studies, Engineering & Technology, Environment & Resources Development, Science & Veterinary Medicine.
- The Nairobi City Campus, hosts the faculties of Arts & Social Sciences, Education & Community Studies and Commerce. It also hosts the African Centre for Distance Education (ACDE).
- The third campus, also called the Kenyatta Campus, is located 5 kilometres (3 mi) from Njoro Campus and houses the Open and Distance Learning (CODL) programmes.
- The fourth campus is known as the Egerton University Nakuru Town Campus College, hosts the faculties of Commerce and Health Sciences.
Faculties of Egerton University
The University has nine faculties, subdived into fifty one academic departments offering programmes at diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels:
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
- Faculty of Education & Community Studies
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Engineering & Technology
- Faculty of Commerce
- Faculty of Environment & Resources Development
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery.
Courses offered
Today, the university offers many academic programs. Students can receive a three-year diploma, a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or a doctorate (PhD). In 2004, the university established a partnership with Western Michigan University that allows students to complete half of their degree at Egerton and finish their studies at WMU in a choice of computer science, engineering and business administration.