Eldoret University has rolled out a scholarship program following a partnership with the European Business University of Luxembourg.
The rollout of the scholarship was held on Thursday at an event held at its Eldoret main campus and was graced by Belgium Ambassador also representing his Luxembourg counterpart Peter Maddens.
Also present was Prof. Phillip Raburu Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning, Research and Extension) of Eldoret University, Wilson Ng’etich the acting Vice Chancellor Dr James Muli of European Business University and Peris Litunya, Director of Education in the Ministry of Education.
Speaking during the launch, University of Eldoret Deputy Vice Chancellor Philip Raburu said the scholarship program aims to ensure more students access to education.
The EBU has over 18,000 students globally with the majority being Kenyans.
In his speech, the Ambassador said he was happy to witness the signing of a memorandum of Understanding between the European Business University (EBU) of Luxembourg and the Eldoret University of Kenya.
He said it was a partnership that represented the right step towards strengthening education ties between Kenya and Luxembourg.
He said Luxembourg is known for its commitment to education and innovation and through the collaboration, their aim was to share the values with the people of Kenya, particularly through online education opportunities.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey of collaboration expressing growth and as an ambassador, am proud to witness the coming together of these two great institutions each with its unique strengths to create a brighter future for the people and students from all over the world,” he said.
He hailed the EBU, and the University of Eldoret for their vision and the Education attaché at the Embassy in Brussels now with the Ministry of Education for their leadership vision and Commitment to the partnership.
“Let’s embrace this opportunity and build bridges break the barriers and unlock the full potential of education for the benefit of all,” he said.
To him, it's education that empowers people in communities to shape their future adding that it’s the country’s rapid advancement in technology and the rise of digital learning programs that have to bridge the geographical divide.
The Ambassador said through digital learning it is possible to bring proper education to the doorstep and also experiences He said there was a need to fix the relationship which has been too dysfunctional for a long.
“I think there is an amazing opportunity coming out as we speak as pretty soon the countries on this continent will have been independent longer than they can,” he said.
The Ambassador said the EBU has lots of experience and Expertise in Online Education adding that through the partnership with Eldoret University, Kenyans will have access to a diverse range of programs taught by skilled educators who understand the global business landscape and can provide relevant insights to succeed in an interconnected world.
“We can learn from Societies like this one that has been built on a resilience which we have seen to have forgotten at times and that’s where I think the interchange is supposed to happen,” he said.
He said the collaboration was not just about imparting knowledge but about fostering cultural exchange and creating a network of global exchange.
“By engaging with students from all over the world students from the University of Eldoret will gain a broader perspective on international business practices enhancing their potential to excel in the global arena and showing the world where they came from and what their experiences are,” he said.
Together, he said they will strive to integrate green practices into their education programs keeping the next generation of leaders with the tools to take all the challenges of the changing world.
In the partnership between EBU and Eldoret University, Certificate programs that cost Sh114,305 without scholarships shall cost Sh 3,475.
On the Degree program, students who will enrol for a bachelor’s of Business Administration shall pay Sh.77, 209 on the scholarship awarded in a course that would have cost Sh1,775,506.
The Scholarship also includes a master of Data Science and Artificial intelligence which costs Sh1,698,296 without scholarships shall cost Sh154,418 only for the entire course making it have a scholarship value of Sh1,783,072.
The collaboration also has a course of Masters of Business Administration which cost Sh.138,976 under the scholarship program which would cost 1,937,491 without the scholarship.
Under the scholarship, students pay in Euro as per the current exchange rate.
The EBU scholarship program is pocket-friendly and more sustainable.
In the bill, the National Assembly granted approval for the establishment of Kenya’s first Virtual university which will be charging from Sh 10,400 t0 Sh10,900 per module depending on the course.
“The identified programs at the Open University of Kenya propose a fee range of between Sh10,400 and Sh10,900 per module, based on the principle of affordability and in comparison, with other open distance learning institutions,” stated the Technical Committee on the Establishment of the Open University of Kenya Report.
The modules charging Sh10,400 include the Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics, Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Technology Education, and Bachelor of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics.
On the other hand, the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences and Technology module is expected to cost Sh10,900.
The Draft Charter for the Open University of Kenya was submitted to the National Assembly on June 15, 2023, seeking Parliamentary approval as per Section 24 (1)(b) of the Universities Act, (2012).
The Charter's objective is to establish a national Open University specialized in providing university programs through distance and e-learning modes.