A labour migration programme initiated by the Mount Kenya University and Germany’s Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences has been lauded as a model project in facilitating the export of labour to the European Country.
Through the programme healthcare professionals, who have also been trained on the German language, are taken to Germany where they are absorbed in the country’s healthcare sector initially as paid apprentices and offered a platform to grow.
The programme has already seen two cohorts of the apprentices leave Kenya for Germany, where they have already settled in their jobs.
A third cohort left Kenya two weeks ago and is currently undergoing orientation in Germany.
MKU has also onboarded the fourth cohort, who are undergoing training at the university and are expected to be leaving Kenya for Germany later this year.
Alexander Fierley, Germany’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, lauded the programme and noted that it offers lessons for Kenya and Germany as they start implementing the Labour Migration Agreement the two countries signed.
“We have signed the labour migration agreement last September and we are now looking for patterns and examples on how labour migration to Germany can work and how we can make the processes more efficient. This project is in the centre of our interest, and we would like to learn from it,” said Fierley when officials from the German Embassy in Nairobi visited the MKU Thika Campus and spoke to the fourth cohort.
He noted that the labour migration deal was mutually beneficial, enabling young Kenyans to secure quality jobs while bridging labour availability gaps in Germany.
“All of you will help ease the shortage of skilled workers in Germany that we are experiencing. We have an average of about 44 years old, compared to Kenya where the average Kenyan is 20 years old. This shows that there are mutual interests. Many young Kenyans do not find the jobs they want to work, and in Germany, many employers do not find the employees they are looking for, so this is a perfect match, and we are keen with developing these kinds of models.”
Other partners in the project are DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), AG-Career Hub (Germany) and Caritas Hospital in Bad Mergentheim & Tauberbischofsheim.
The university 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 German language B1 Level.
“The impact of the project has been such that even our neighbours in Austria are also looking for collaboration with MKU, which is great because together we are stronger, and it also helps you as well,” said Fierley.
He added that the opportunity offered young Kenyans to experience a different worldview while deepening their professional skills, which could be used in the coming years to develop Kenya.
“We have many kenyans in Germany who are happy in their jobs and whether you stay there for a few years and return to Kenya with the know how that you have acquired or decide to stay in Germany for good, it is your decision,” he said encouraging them with their efforts including learning the German language.
“I would like to encourage you to continue with your efforts. From what I have heard, there is a good knowledge of the language.”
MKU said it is looking to expand the programme, which, in addition to German language, has largely been based on nursing, to include other courses such as Medical Technologist in Radiology.
This, MKU said, would further broaden the scope of career opportunities available to students.
“MKU remains dedicated to expanding global learning opportunities for students, empowering them with international exposure and career development pathways,” said Prof Deogratius Jaganyi, Vice Chancellor of MKU.
“We appreciate the continued collaboration with the German Embassy, Hochschule Koblenz, and DAAD, and look forward to even greater academic engagements in the future.”
Fierley was accompanied by Ms. Kerstin Pfirrmann, culture attache at the German embassy and Dr Dorothee Weyler, director DAAD.
Dr Weyler lauded the project and added that DAAD would offer expertise in German language training as well as other resources that the students needed.
The institution had already forwarded a German language assistant teacher to MKU to provide lessons to the students and support them in their efforts to develop language skills.
Dr Christopher Lebrenz of Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences said the partners in the project had over the implementation period been able to smoothen the processes and are now aware of the major obstacles which they have had to overcome.
They are now making the programme better.
“We are very fortunate to have found a Kenyan university who is a reliable and engaged partner in this process,” he said, adding that following the initial phases, the partners would now evaluate how to scale up the programme.
“We are glad to increase the number of students going to Germany and we hope that by preparing them well in their country of origin, Kenya, we help them better integrate both professionally and as well as a private person in the German society and that they will grow professionally but also helping Germany meet the needs in the healthcare industry.”
“The first two cohorts have already settled in and are very encouraging.”
