The university: its relevance and legitimacy to the community in East Africa

Some remarks on problems facing the dual nature of a university-localness and universality- with special reference to East Africa: 1. ‘The quest for relevance’ deals with the debate whether the British model (Oxbridge) was the best that could h have been provided, and whether a ‘typically African university’ will emerge when the British and American midwives and nannies have left for home; 2. ‘Crisis of legitimacy’ deals with a crisis that universities today face viz. their existence has to be jusified; 3. ‘Student power’ deals with the feel African students have, on the whole, that they have been too pliant, and that it is high time they recognize their responsibilities to humanity.