The Open University of Kenya (OUK) has announced opportunities for qualified professionals and academics to serve as Part-Time Students Supervisors across a wide range of disciplines. These opportunities are aimed at supporting postgraduate students through research supervision while contributing to the University’s mission of delivering accessible, flexible, technology-driven, and high-quality higher education.
Established through a Charter granted on 3 August 2023 under the Universities Act, 2012, the Open University of Kenya is Kenya’s first fully specialized public open and distance learning university. Located at Konza Technopolis in Makueni County, approximately 70 kilometres from Nairobi along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, the University is designed to expand access to higher education through innovative digital learning models.
The University is founded on the principles of inclusivity, openness, flexibility, quality, and innovation. Through its digital-first approach, OUK seeks to develop highly skilled graduates capable of addressing national and global development challenges.
As part of strengthening its academic programmes, the University is inviting qualified and interested professionals to serve as Part-Time Students Supervisors in various academic specializations.
Available Part-Time Students Supervision Opportunities
1. Health Sciences
The University is seeking supervisors in the following specialization areas:
- Global Health and Diplomacy
- Health Economics and Financing
- Entrepreneurship and Healthcare Management
- Healthcare Procurement and Partnerships
- Global Business Environment
- International Trade Law and Policy
- Global Business Leadership and Diplomacy
Role Overview
Part-Time Students Supervisors in Health Sciences will guide postgraduate students undertaking research in healthcare, public health, leadership, policy, economics, and global health systems. They will provide academic mentorship, monitor research progress, evaluate scholarly work, and ensure research meets university and professional standards.
2. Media, Communication and Design Technologies
Specializations include:
- Graphic Design
- Instructional Design
- Learning Technologies and Educational Change
- Computer Graphics
- Data Analytics and Visualization
Role Overview
Supervisors will mentor students conducting research in media, educational technologies, digital communication, visual design, and learning innovation. They will assist students in refining research proposals, developing methodologies, reviewing findings, and producing quality academic research.
3. Agriculture and Food Systems
Available specialization areas include:
- Agrobiodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- Soil Health in Agricultural Systems
- Climate Change and Agriculture
- Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers
- Animal Nutrition and Feeds
- Livestock Health and Management
- Agricultural Machinery and Technology
- Production of Horticultural Crops
- Plant Health Management
- Biostatistics
- Industrial Attachment and Field Practice
Role Overview
Successful supervisors will support postgraduate students undertaking agricultural and environmental research. Responsibilities include guiding scientific investigations, reviewing research proposals, ensuring ethical research practices, and helping students produce impactful research that contributes to sustainable agricultural development.
4. Information Technology, Computing and Artificial Intelligence
The University seeks supervisors in:
- Computer Vision and Image Analysis
- Natural Language Processing
- Responsible and Explainable AI
- Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI
- Data Management
- Database Administration
- Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop
- Data Governance, Ethics and Law
- System Analysis and Design
- Web Application Programming
- Secure Software Development
- Information Systems Control and Audit
- Cybersecurity Law and Ethics
- Internet Technologies
Role Overview
These supervisors will provide academic leadership to students undertaking advanced research in computing, artificial intelligence, software engineering, cybersecurity, databases, internet technologies, and emerging digital innovations. They will support students throughout the research process from proposal development to final thesis completion.
5. Marketing, Procurement and Project Management
Specialization areas include:
- Global Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Marketing Analytics
- Negotiation and Supplier Relations
- Procurement Law and Ethics
- Electronic Procurement
- Strategic Supply Chain and Sustainability
- Project Formulation
- Planning and Design
- Project Implementation and Monitoring
- Evaluation and Reporting
- Strategic Analysis and Models
- Project Methodologies and Models
- Procurement and Partnerships
Role Overview
Supervisors will mentor postgraduate students conducting research in marketing, procurement, supply chain management, and project management. They will provide guidance on research design, data analysis, interpretation of findings, and scholarly writing while ensuring adherence to academic quality standards.
6. Human Resource Management and Leadership Development
The University is recruiting supervisors in:
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Employee Relations and Labour Laws
- Performance Management
- Leadership Theories and Models
- Leadership and Innovation
- Corporate Governance and Leadership
- Ethics
- Governance and Accountability
- Public Policy and Governance
- Policy Implementation and Evaluation
Role Overview
Part-Time Students Supervisors will oversee postgraduate research focusing on leadership, governance, organizational development, labour relations, public policy, ethics, and human resource management. They will mentor students throughout the research lifecycle and promote academic excellence.
7. Business, Finance and Economics
Specialization areas include:
- Financial Accounting
- Business Mathematics
- Public Finance and Taxation
- Financial Analysis and Reporting
- Auditing and Investigation
- Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
- Corporate Strategy
- Strategic Management
- Applied Econometrics
- Behavioural and Institutional Economics
- Environmental and Natural Resources Economics
- Global Business Management
- Taxation
- Operations Research
- Business Law
- Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship
- Design Thinking
Role Overview
Supervisors in this category will guide postgraduate students undertaking research in finance, accounting, economics, business strategy, entrepreneurship, taxation, and management. The role involves providing academic supervision, evaluating research quality, supporting publication-ready work, and ensuring compliance with university research standards.
About the Open University of Kenya
The Open University of Kenya was established to expand access to quality university education through open, distance, and technology-enabled learning. By leveraging modern digital technologies, the University seeks to remove geographical and time barriers that traditionally limit access to higher education.
Its academic philosophy emphasizes:
- Quality education
- Accessibility
- Inclusivity
- Flexibility
- Innovation
- Technology-enabled learning
The institution supports Kenya’s national development agenda by developing highly skilled professionals capable of responding to emerging socio-economic and technological challenges.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should visit the Open University of Kenya recruitment portal, review the available specialization areas, and submit their applications through the online application system before the stated closing date.
