Technology

Master of Knowledge Management

The Master of Knowledge Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in knowledge management, information governance, and organisational learning. The programme combines knowledge management theory with practical information systems, records management, and organisational learning application.

Core areas include knowledge management theory, information governance, records management, organisational learning, knowledge capture and sharing, digital libraries, information systems, data management, research methods, and thesis or project. Students engage with both knowledge management theory and practical case studies and laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as MSc in Information Knowledge Management through the School of Computing and Information Technology, Kenyatta University as MSc in Knowledge Management through the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, and Technical University of Kenya as MSc in Information and Knowledge Management through the Department of Information and Library Science. All are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in knowledge management theory, information governance, records management, organisational learning, knowledge capture and sharing, digital libraries, and information systems. The programme includes coursework, examinations, case studies, and a supervised research thesis or project.

JKUAT charges KES 126,000/year (KES 252,000 total) for information knowledge management. TU-K charges approximately KES 191,650/year (KES 383,300 total) for information and knowledge management. KU charges approximately KES 200,000/year for knowledge management. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in library and information science, records management, IT, or any branch of knowledge from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as knowledge managers, information managers, records managers, library directors, information governance specialists, and lecturers in knowledge management across corporate organisations, government agencies, libraries, research institutions, consulting firms, and universities.

Skills Required

Knowledge Management Theory and Practice
Information Governance and Policy
Records Management and Archival Administration
Organisational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Digital Libraries and Information Systems
Knowledge Capture and Codification
Data Management and Information Architecture
Content Management and Digital Curation
Research Methods in Knowledge Management
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Knowledge Management Theory and Practice
Information Governance and Policy
Records Management and Archival Administration
Organisational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Digital Libraries and Information Systems
Knowledge Capture and Codification
Data Management and Information Architecture
Content Management and Digital Curation
Research Methods in Knowledge Management
Thesis or Project Research

Certifications

Kenya Library Association (KLA) Membership
International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Membership

Specializations

Information Governance

Focuses on information governance, covering policy, compliance, data governance, information security, and managing information governance.

Records Management

Examines records management, covering records lifecycle, archival administration, digital preservation, and managing records systems.

Organisational Learning

Covers organisational learning, covering learning organisations, knowledge sharing, communities of practice, and managing organisational learning.

Digital Libraries

Focuses on digital libraries, covering digital collections, metadata, repositories, open access, and managing digital libraries.

Knowledge Capture and Sharing

Examines knowledge capture, covering tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, codification, sharing platforms, and managing knowledge capture.

Information Systems Management

Covers information systems, covering IS design, databases, content management, enterprise systems, and managing information systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 231,600
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Knowledge Management Theory and Practice
Information Governance and Policy
Records Management and Archival Administration
Organisational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Digital Libraries and Information Systems
Knowledge Capture and Codification
Data Management and Information Architecture
Content Management and Digital Curation
Research Methods in Knowledge Management
Thesis or Project Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Knowledge Management Theory and Foundations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines knowledge types, tacit and explicit knowledge, knowledge lifecycle, KM models, and managing knowledge management.
Information Governance and Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers policy, compliance, data governance, information security, privacy, and managing information governance.
Research Methods in Knowledge Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, KM research methods, and conducting knowledge management research, preparing students for their thesis or project.
Records Management and Archival Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines records lifecycle, archival administration, digital preservation, classification, and managing records systems.
Organisational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers learning organisations, knowledge sharing, communities of practice, culture, and managing organisational learning.
Digital Libraries and Information Repositories
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines digital collections, metadata, repositories, open access, and managing digital libraries.
Knowledge Capture and Codification
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, codification, sharing platforms, storytelling, and managing knowledge capture.
Information Systems and Data Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines IS design, databases, content management, enterprise systems, data architecture, and managing information systems and data.
Content Management and Digital Curation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers CMS, digital curation, taxonomy, ontologies, metadata schemas, and managing content and digital curation.
Knowledge Management Technologies and Tools
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines KM platforms, collaboration tools, AI for KM, semantic technologies, and managing KM technologies.
Strategic Knowledge Management and Innovation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers KM strategy, innovation management, intellectual capital, knowledge economy, and managing strategic knowledge management.
Research Thesis or Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis or project on a knowledge management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and KM knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Information Governance
Focuses on information governance, covering policy, compliance, data governance, information security, and managing information governance.
Records Management
Examines records management, covering records lifecycle, archival administration, digital preservation, and managing records systems.
Organisational Learning
Covers organisational learning, covering learning organisations, knowledge sharing, communities of practice, and managing organisational learning.
Digital Libraries
Focuses on digital libraries, covering digital collections, metadata, repositories, open access, and managing digital libraries.
Knowledge Capture and Sharing
Examines knowledge capture, covering tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, codification, sharing platforms, and managing knowledge capture.
Information Systems Management
Covers information systems, covering IS design, databases, content management, enterprise systems, and managing information systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Knowledge Management programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, case study workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover knowledge management theory, information governance, records management, and organisational learning. Knowledge management theory sessions examine knowledge types, tacit and explicit knowledge, knowledge lifecycle, KM models, and managing knowledge management. Information governance sessions cover policy, compliance, data governance, information security, privacy, and managing information governance. Records management sessions cover records lifecycle, archival administration, digital preservation, classification, and managing records systems. Organisational learning sessions cover learning organisations, knowledge sharing, communities of practice, culture, and managing organisational learning. Knowledge capture sessions cover tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, codification, sharing platforms, storytelling, and managing knowledge capture. Digital libraries sessions cover digital collections, metadata, repositories, open access, and managing digital libraries. Information systems sessions cover IS design, databases, content management, enterprise systems, and managing information systems. Data management sessions cover data architecture, data quality, master data, data lifecycle, and managing data. Content management sessions cover CMS, digital curation, taxonomy, ontologies, and managing content. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis or project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with knowledge management platforms, content management systems, digital repositories, and database tools. Case study workshops provide hands-on experience with real organisational knowledge management challenges. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in knowledge management. Guest lectures from experienced knowledge managers, information professionals, and library directors provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis or project on a knowledge management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

JKUAT offers competitive fees at KES 126,000/year (KES 252,000 total) for information knowledge management.
Programme offered by three public universities (JKUAT, KU, TU-K), providing institutional choice.
Knowledge management skills are increasingly relevant with digital transformation, data governance, and organisational learning trends.
Graduates are eligible for KLA and IFLA professional membership, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

TU-K fees are higher at approximately KES 191,650/year (KES 383,300 total).
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
KU specific knowledge management fees not independently verified.
Knowledge management is a niche field with moderate demand compared to broader IT or business programmes.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses

Public126k to 232k

126k at JKUAT232k at Technical University of Kenya

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TUK ~232K/yr (tukenya.ac.ke). JKUAT ~126K/yr (applyscholars). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT and KU may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. Some organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study in knowledge management.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
KU Postgraduate Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
KU Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
KU offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities accept any branch of knowledge for admission. JKUAT requires Upper Second or Lower Second with three years experience. KU accepts library and information science, records management, IT, or any branch with Upper Second, or Lower Second with two years experience or postgraduate diploma. TU-K requires Upper Second or Lower Second with two years experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study reports, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering knowledge management theory, information governance, records management, and organisational learning.
Practical and Case Study Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through case studies, KM platform exercises, repository setup, records management exercises, and demonstrating KM skills.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis or project on a knowledge management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and KM knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT, Kenyatta University, and Technical University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Information Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management, or Information and Knowledge Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in knowledge management. Graduates are eligible for KLA and IFLA professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT, Kenyatta University, and Technical University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Information Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management, or Information and Knowledge Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in knowledge management. Graduates are eligible for KLA and IFLA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Knowledge Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages knowledge programmes, overseeing capture, sharing, systems, and managing organisational knowledge.
Information Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages information systems, overseeing governance, data, content, and managing information resources.
Records Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages records systems, overseeing lifecycle, archival, preservation, compliance, and managing records.
Library Director
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Directs library operations, overseeing collections, services, staff, digital libraries, and managing library organisations.
Information Governance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages information governance, overseeing policy, compliance, data governance, and managing information governance.
Knowledge Management Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches knowledge management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft SharePoint
SoftwarePrimary
SharePoint for knowledge management, covering document management, collaboration, intranet, content management, and managing organisational knowledge.
DSpace
Software
DSpace for digital repositories, covering digital collections, open access, institutional repositories, and managing digital libraries.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering survey data, research data, KM metrics, and managing statistical analysis.
Excel
Software
Excel for data management, covering records data, KM metrics, reports, and managing knowledge management data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Knowledge management is just about storing documents.
Knowledge management covers comprehensive tacit and explicit knowledge, organisational learning, culture, communities of practice, and knowledge sharing beyond just storing documents.
This programme is only for librarians.
Knowledge management skills are valuable for information managers, records managers, IT professionals, consultants, researchers, and educators beyond just librarians.
Records management is just about filing papers.
Records management covers comprehensive lifecycle management, digital preservation, archival administration, classification, and compliance.
Organisational learning is just about training programmes.
Organisational learning covers comprehensive learning organisations, knowledge sharing, culture change, communities of practice, and systematic knowledge creation.
Digital libraries are just about scanning books.
Digital libraries cover comprehensive digital collections, metadata, repositories, open access, preservation, and digital curation.
Information governance is just about data protection.
Information governance covers comprehensive policy, compliance, data governance, information security, privacy, and information lifecycle management.