Kibabii University, in collaboration with Kenya Methodist University (KeMU), has been awarded funding by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) under the HR in Higher Education (HR in HE) Community Grants programme. The grant, valued at GBP 11,298, will support the implementation of a project titled “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen Human Resource Processes in Higher Education Institutions in Kenya.”
The project seeks to promote human resource best practices by enhancing the capacity of HR managers and staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) to effectively integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into recruitment processes. Specifically, it aims to address persistent challenges associated with traditional recruitment methods, including inefficiencies in applicant shortlisting, curriculum vitae (CV) parsing, and accurate skills matching.
By equipping HR professionals with practical knowledge and tools for AI deployment, the initiative will foster more inclusive, efficient, and transparent hiring practices. The project is expected to contribute to the development of robust HR management systems, strengthen institutional policy frameworks, and build a more technologically skilled HR workforce within Kenyan universities.
Current discussions and assessments indicate that manual recruitment processes often result in unconscious bias, prolonged hiring timelines, and increased administrative costs. Through the adoption of AI-driven solutions, the project aims to streamline recruitment workflows, enhance fairness and inclusivity, and improve overall efficiency. The AI platform and training resources developed under this initiative will provide scalable and sustainable solutions, with potential benefits extending to other member institutions within the ACU network.
The project is led by Dr. Manasi Echaune, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Planning and Management at Kibabii University, who serves as the Principal Investigator. She is supported by Dr. Mary Mbithi, Lecturer in the Department of Business Administration at Kenya Methodist University, who serves as Co-Investigator.
