Web geographic information system (GIS) in accreditation and monitoring of professional training institutions for quality assurance: The case of Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB), Kenya

Abstract

Professional education is crucial not only in impacting citizens with skills and competencies in specific fields, but also in accelerating development in any country. Kenya aims at providing globally competitive quality education, training and research to her citizens. In line with these national goals and in order to maintain the quality of its qualifications, Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) accredits training institutions. The integration of web geographic information system (GIS) is premised to enhance the accreditation process by use of visualization, cartographic classification, reduction of turnaround time and elimination of current manual processes among other functionalities. To realize these objectives, a survey of user requirements was undertaken. Spatial locations of training institutions were digitized using Google Earth geobrowser. An accreditation geodatabase was designed in ArcGIS, and used to store both spatial and attribute data. The data was then exported to ArcGIS Online where the use of web GIS technology ensured the creation of an Accreditation Web App. The web app can be shared and accessed using desktops, laptops or smart mobile devices. The app simplifies the accreditation process and offers accreditation officers, students and other stakeholders a web-based GIS enabled solution. It also provides management with the ability to perform market research, and integrate the app with other existing systems in order to enhance efficient use of resources.