M.A. in Urban Management Master/MBA

Urbanization is an irreversible trend worldwide with close to 50% of the world population living in urban areas and involves a multitude of social, economic, demographic, environmental and spatial aspects. Many developing countries, including Kenya have recorded unprecedented rates of urbanization that has challenged the capacity of many local authorities to tackle the attendant challenges. The pace of urbanization in the developing countries has posed several challenges to planners, managers, policy makers and researchers and thus need to develop innovative programmes that would train human resources to effectively manage emerging challenges in our urban societies.

The increase in urban population in many developing countries has posed many challenges to management of these cities, challenges that tend to transcend traditional urban management fields/professions. The Masters of Science in Urbana Management programme at Egerton University intends to fill a gap in the training of urban managers for our urban systems that has traditionally been undertaken by professionals trained either in the field of planning, legal studies, financial management etc. and that has proved inadequate in tackling the emerging challenges of urban societies. The complexities of problems in our urban societies call for managers who will not only be prudent resource managers but able to mobilize resources for growth and development of urban centers.

These are managers who are able to look for and create opportunities that can help expand the urban economic base and make linkages with the surrounding region. The programme intends to generate managers not only with skills to effectively manage our urban centers but also be keen team players and coordinators of various actors. The practicum aspect in the program is meant to enhance the practicability of the solutions that students may propose and strengthen their hands-on approach to tackling urban problems.