Mount Kenya University has sent the first cohort of five students to Germany to offer healthcare services in the European country.
The graduates were presented with their work permits, visas, and air tickets on Saturday, all fully funded by Caritas Hospital (Germany), one of the project's partner institutions in Germany.
MKU entered into an agreement with Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in Germany to provide German language and preparatory courses to Kenyans, preparing them for employment in Germany as apprentices.
MKU vice chancellor Prof Deogratious Jaganyi said the project aligns with the government’s quest to increase opportunities for Kenyans abroad.
The government has signed bilateral labour agreements with different countries to allow the country to export their skills.
On May 25, last year, President Willam Ruto announced that Germany had opened doors for 250,000 Kenyans to work in Germany.
“As a training institution, it is upon us to support the President's initiative by actualising this endeavour. In this regard, MKU in partnership with the German university, aims to establish structures and processes that will prepare 5,000 Kenyans to work in Germany in various sectors,” Jaganyi said.
“The first pilot cohort has successfully gone through the German language B2 Level of proficiency and completed the preparatory course.”
The partnership between MKU and Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences of Germany offers paid apprenticeships and jobs to young Kenyans.
Gekonge Mogambi, Aisha Wacuka, Hellen Okwaro, Bonciana Chepkorir and Teresiah Muthoni are the first apprentices of about the 5,000 young Kenyans that are expected to benefit from the partnership.
Students interested in the opportunities are required to have German Language proficiency and pursue a preparatory programme in Nursing apprenticeship for German hospitals.
AG-Career Hub founded by Kenyan Professionals based in Germany will support the beneficiaries of this project to integrate with their new environment and culture as they commence their paid apprenticeships in Germany to support the labour market.
Expanding the job horizon for our people aligns very well with our motto of unlocking infinite possibilities,” Prof Jaganyi said.
MKU has a similar partnership with Lebenshilfe Tirol of Austria that also enables nursing graduates from the Kenyan university to work in Austria. MKU expects to initially have 60 nursing graduates to travel to Austria. Graduates are required to have a German language B1 Level.
MKU curricula are continuously reviewed to meet the national, regional and market needs of the industry and commercial sectors.
