History
There is an increasing need among students and staff to have programmes designed to address gender issues which hinder academic excellence and staff performance within the university. Some of the issues include gender imbalance, sexual harassment, gender based violence, unwanted pregnancies, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS among others.
Mentoring will play an important role in improving performance of both students and staff.
Mission
Vision
General objectives
Specific objectives
- To conduct short training courses which will enhance the understanding of gender issues.
- To engage outreach programmes and advocacy in gender related issues through public lectures, short courses, seminars, workshops and mass media.
- To assist both men and women to recognize and understand their complementary roles in society through mass media, public lectures, seminars and workshops.
- To establish a resource center for information on gender issues.
- To provide consultancy and counseling on gender and related development issues.
- To offer mentoring programmes as a basic tool in achieving maximum performance.
- To provide short academic programmes in gender and development studies.
- To develop knowledge and strategies for the advancement of gender equity, skills and capacity in gender analysis.
- To facilitate links between the university and like minded institutions and persons.
- To conduct research in gender issues within the university and advise the university accordingly for better service delivery.
- To facilitate gender mainstreaming in all sectors of the university.
Mentoring Programme
Mentoring is one key element that has the potential to add impetus to the rise of the university. These programmes have been designed to be part and parcel of the gender activities.1. Overall life of protégés
Research shows that providing for youth with consistent adult support through well – supervised, frequent meeting, long-term mentoring relationship improves grades and family relationship and helps prevent iniation into drug and alcohol use. Academic grades, career development, family and para-family relationships are a critical area with students beginning to experience a new sense of freedom away from “hawk-eyed” parents and close to diverse people in the university community.
2. Faculty growth and professional progression
Mentoring is a useful tool for faculty growth where senior and experienced academic staff are engaged in mentoring the junior and incoming faculty members. This gives impetus to academic and professional progression and thus continuity in the university’s stamina in study, research and innovation, and community service.
3. Complimentary role to counseling and life support
University and school’s dropout rates are a function of failed morale, social and psychological problems and unexpected outcomes in academic performance in studies among others. While some of the issues can be solved through counseling and career redirection, mentoring plays a crucial role and averts their opportunity to strike.
4. Streamlined and committed career paths
Mentoring offers support and guidance, helps the protégés in developing career plans, balancing between achieving career commitments against unplanned schedules and activities, gaining confidence in the working environment, obtaining valubles feedback as well as receiving the much needed criticism in the career path.