A Comparative Analysis of Higher National Diplomas Awarded in Kenya in Reference to Kenya National Qualifications Framework

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority was set up in 2015 with a goal of coordinating and harmonizing Education, Training, Appraisal and Quality of certificates conferred in the country, the main objective of advancing quality and international comparability education and training. The Authority's mandates as stipulated in the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQA) Act No. 22 of 2014 and KNQA Regulations, 2018. The obligations of the Authority cuts across the Basic, TVET and University Sectors in Kenya. The KNQA assures quality of Qualifications, accrediting and registering of Qualifications Awarding Institutions (QAIs), professional bodies, external assurance agencies as well as domestic and foreign assessment. The Authority registers Qualifications Awarding Institutions, National Qualifications and Learners record data base as specified in both the Act and the regulations aforementioned above. The Authority also harmonizes and coordinates quality of all qualifications conferred in the country; with the opinion of enhancing excellence of qualifications and global comparability in qualifications in the region. In line with this, UNESCO has directed all nations to institute the process and timeline for developing qualifications frameworks globally for educational recognition and comparability.