An Assessment Of Outsourcing As A Strategy For Sustainability Amongst Universities In Kenya: A Case Of University Of Eastern Africa Baraton (Nairobi) And Adventist University Of Africa

Abstract

Universities have greatly embraced outsourcing in order to focus on their core competencies while the external parties deliver the non-core services. Outsourcing is understood as the process of engaging an external company to provide products and services to students on behalf of the university. Hence outsourcing has been used as a strategic tool for sustainability in the universities. The research assessed outsourcing as a strategy for sustainability amongst Adventist universities and focused on UEAB (Nairobi) and AUA University. The data sought to address how technology from the outsourced services, the features of the outsourcing contracts and the qualification of the vendors together with the quality of their services contribute to the sustainability of the universities. The study used a case study design and utilized quantitative and qualitative data as its primary source of information, together with information from secondary sources. A target population of 797 students and 82 staff was randomly selected using stratified random sampling method. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social science and data presented in tables and graphs. The researcher found out that technology used by vendors to offer the services contributed to the universities sustainability, the contract between the universities and the vendors’ ensured effective delivery of services for the sustainability of the universities. Finally qualification of the vendors and the quality of their services greatly affected the sustainability of the universities. The study suggests that universities should embrace outsourcing for increased efficiency on teaching and research and jobless people should join the vendoring field to ensure that the society has qualified and experienced vendors.