Strategic leadership
Sets the University's direction with the Governing Council and leads delivery of its strategic plan, priorities and performance targets.
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
The chief executive and academic officer, leading the University day to day.
Office holder
Prof. Elijah I. Omwenga, PhD, FICTAK
Vice-Chancellor
About the Office
The Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive and academic officer of the Open University of Kenya, responsible for the day-to-day academic, administrative and financial management of the University.
The Office of the Vice-Chancellor sets the University's strategic direction with the Governing Council, carries out the Council's decisions and serves as Secretary to the Council. The Vice-Chancellor chairs the University Senate and the University Management Board, and leads the Deputy Vice-Chancellors and the heads of the University's schools, directorates and offices.
Contact the office
Mandate
What the Office does
Academic leadership
Chairs the University Senate, which oversees academic standards, programmes, examinations and the award of degrees.
Management and administration
Chairs the University Management Board and oversees the day-to-day running of the University, its people, finances and resources.
Secretary to Council
Serves as Secretary to the Governing Council, carries out its decisions and reports to it on the University's performance.
Partnerships and advocacy
Represents the University to government, regulators, industry and academic partners, building collaborations that widen access to learning.
Governance and accountability
Upholds good governance, integrity and compliance with the law, University statutes and policies across every office and school.
Message from the Vice-Chancellor
Welcome to the Open University of Kenya; a University where learning is not confined by walls, distance or time.
The establishment of the Open University of Kenya (OUK) marks a new chapter in Kenya's higher education landscape. As Kenya's first fully online public university, OUK is founded on the conviction that access to quality higher education should not be determined by where a person lives, when they can study or the circumstances in which they find themselves.
We are building a University for a changing world; one that uses technology, innovation and flexible learning to create new pathways to knowledge, skills and opportunity. Our model enables learners to pursue higher education while accommodating the realities of work, family, geography and other responsibilities.
Our Vision, “Innovative University for Inclusive Prosperity,” captures the ambition that drives us. We seek to deliver education differently and to contribute to a more inclusive society in which knowledge, skills, research and innovation create opportunities for individuals and advance national development.
At OUK, the learner is at the heart of our University. We are committed to providing rigorous and relevant academic programmes, engaging digital learning experiences and responsive support services that enable our students to learn, grow and succeed. Our faculty and staff bring together expertise, dedication and innovation to create an academic environment that encourages critical inquiry, creativity, collaboration and lifelong learning.
Research and innovation are equally central to our mission. We seek to generate knowledge, address real-world challenges and develop solutions that have meaningful impact in Kenya, Africa and the wider world. Through strategic partnerships and engagement with industry, government, communities and other institutions, we are strengthening the University's contribution beyond the boundaries of the virtual classroom.
I invite you to explore OUK, discover our programmes and opportunities and join a University that is helping to shape the future of higher education.
Prof. Elijah I. Omwenga, PhD, FICTAK
Vice-Chancellor
Get in touch
Reach the office
Write to the office directly, or meet the rest of the team that leads the University.
Location
Nairobi, Kenya