EU Ambassador flags off 23 Kenyan Erasmus Scholarship students

The European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger hosted a pre-departure reception for 23 Kenyan students who are embarking on a journey to various European countries for the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJMs), the European Union’s scholarship programme.

The Erasmus Scholarship is part of the Erasmus Plus, the European Union flagship programme that supports education, training, and youth.

The programme has been running for more than 30 years and has offered more than 1.2 million scholarships worldwide.

“Whether you are going for the two-year joint master's degree or a short-term study exchange, Erasmus provides an opportunity to study outside your country, learn about other cultures and develop linkages with people from all over the world, thus widening your horizon and providing opportunities for cross border learning and cooperation," said Ambassador Geiger.

"There is no limit on the number of fully funded scholarships we can offer. I therefore appeal to all young Kenyans with a bachelor's degree to apply.”

Geiger was accompanied by the Ambassadors of Austria,  Dr Christian Fellner, Germany, Sebastian Groth, The Netherlands,  Henk Jan Bakker, Romania, H. E Gentiana Serbu, Sweden, Caroline Vicini along with Charge d'affaires of France, Lionel Fabre, Hungary, Balázs Kunt and Spain, Miguel Soler Gomis.

During the event attended by officials from the Ministry of Education and Vice Chancellors from Kenyan Universities, Ambassador Geiger noted that in the last three years, 91 Kenyan students have been selected for the EMJMs.

Between 2014 and 2020, 250 Kenyan students took part in joint master's degree studies.

EMJMs are awarded annually to individual applicants who meet criteria set by each consortium awarding it.

The programmes last from one to two years during which students study in at least two different Erasmus+33 countries and obtain a joint, double, or multiple degree.

The application process is fully online and all Kenyans who meet the requirements of the programme can apply directly online at the link below.

The next application period will open at the end of September. 

Permanent Secretary for Higher Education Dr Beatrice Inyangala lauded the initiative saying:

“We are happy that Kenyan students can take part in this innovative joint masters’ programme, and even take short courses that contribute to their degrees back home. We want to encourage more and more students and staff of our institutions of higher learning to use the opportunities offered by the European Union’s Erasmus programme.”

The Director General of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) Prof Walter Oyawa, who is also the Erasmus National Focal Point for Kenya, said;

“We are happy to collaborate with our European partners through the Erasmus programme and other European Higher Education research programmes such as Horizon Europe, the largest public research fund in the world, as allow Kenyan researchers to obtain funding for their research and to partner with European cutting edge research institutes.”

The 23 selected Kenyan students will be proceeding to Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, France, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.

Under the International Credit Mobility programme, which offers study exchanges for short durations, for both students and teaching staff from European Countries and partner countries, 164 Kenyan students and 181 faculty of 35 Kenyan universities have been selected for the period 2021 to 2025.

The International Credit Mobility programme allows Kenyan students to study in a foreign university for 2-12 months and obtain credits which are then recognised at the sending institution as part of their degree.

The mobility can be from 5-30 days if part of blended mobility, a combination of physical mobility with a virtual component.