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The Union List of Theses and Dissertations Held by Universities and Research Institutions in Kenya

The Kenya Information Preservation Society (KIPS) is a society registered in Kenya since 1993, whose objective is to facilitate the preservation and conservation of Kenya's national information heritage.

KIPS has undertaken the task of bringing together the records held mainly by universities and research institutions which reflect the post-graduate research that has been completed on all aspects of Kenya. The result of this endeavour is the database entitled The union list of theses and dissertations held by universities and reseach institutions in Kenya. This database also includes details of theses and dissertations that reflect research undertaken in Kenya but held by institutions located outside of Kenya.

As of March 2010, 12,243 records are in the database. Abstracts have been included when made available by the contributing institutions. In future, KIPS would like to ensure that abstracts accompany each citation. There remain a significant number of theses and dissertations not yet in the Union List, not only those reflecting research in earlier years but also research of the most recent years.

The criteria used to determine which records to include in the database are as follows:

• Any post-graduate theses/dissertations written by Kenyan scholars, whether or not the research is on Kenya (e.g. research on bio-chemistry with no geographic focus) regardless of where and when the degrees were awarded.
• Any post-graduate theses/dissertations that reflect research on any aspect of Kenya written by non-Kenyan scholars, regardless of where and when the degrees were awarded.

The database has been published in CD-ROM format. Issues nos. 1 and 2 of the Union list were published in March 2003 and March 2005. Issue No. 2 included all entries that appeared in Issue No. 1 as well as the new records. Issue no. 3 includes all entries in Union List Issues nos. 1 and 2.

The 24 contributing institutions include 12 universities, 8 research bodies, the Kenya National Archives, the Kenya National Library Service, the National Museums of Kenya, and the University Microforms International, USA.

The following grants have been received for this project:

• 2005 : $2,000 - French Institute for Research on Africa (IFRA)
• 2008 : $2,000 - Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services
• 2009 : $4,225 - International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP)

No long-term funding has yet been secured for this project. Office space has been made available rent free at the University of Nairobi.

KIPS does not hold the documents listed, and users who need access to the material should contact the librarian of the relevant institution for information.

Ruth Thomas, Chairman, KIPS Theses/Dissertations Sub-Committee

Copyright Kenya Information Preservation Society 2008.