Mount Kenya University is looking to expand its forays in labour migration, which has largely focused on the nursing profession, to include other disciplines.
The university has, in recent years, partnered with international institutions in training young professionals in healthcare and helping them secure foreign jobs, mostly in Germany.
MKU now says it is in plans to increase such training to cover other areas to include ICT and engineering, a move that is expected to grow opportunities for many talented young Kenyans to secure high-paying jobs in other markets.
MKU and Germany’s Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences have a partnership through which Kenyan healthcare professionals trained at MKU are taken to work in Germany’s healthcare sector.
The programme is seen as supporting the Kenya–Germany Migration and Employment Agreement signed in 2024.
“Looking ahead, MKU is committed to expanding this collaboration beyond the nursing profession. We envision skilled labour migration opportunities in ICT, engineering, technical trades, and other sectors critical to both economies,” said Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, Vice Chancellor MKU.
“Furthermore, our vision includes establishing German language as one of the foreign languages taught at MKU and deepening partnerships with German institutions for cross-border training and digital learning programs to enhance global employability for our graduates.”
“MKU has an unwavering commitment to fostering international partnerships that create skills, jobs, and economic opportunities for our youth. We remain dedicated to contributing to Kenya’s development agenda while strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Kenya and Germany.”
He spoke on Wednesday during the second edition of the German Career Fair.
The fair was attended by Dr. Joachim Stamp, the Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements, German Ambassador to Kenya and senior officials from the German Embassy.
“Today’s career fair provides an important platform for our students to engage directly with German employers, government representatives, and professionals already working in Germany. I encourage all our students to take full advantage of this unique opportunity to seek guidance, explore career pathways, and understand the requirements for successful careers in Germany,” said Prof Jaganyi.
Other partners in the MKU-Hochschule Koblenz project are DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), AG-Career Hub (Germany) and Caritas Hospital in Bad Mergentheim & Tauberbischofsheim.
The programme has already seen three cohorts successfully trained and leave Kenya for Germany, where they have already settled in their jobs.
Mount Kenya University Executive Director, Equip Africa Institute, Prof. Evans Kerosi, left, with MKU Vice-Chancellor prof Deogratius Jaganyi and Dr. Joachim Stamp, Special Federal Commissioner for Migration Agreements | Head of Delegation | Germany, during his visit to Mount Kenya University and gracing the German Career Fair at Thika main campus. (Photo: John Muchucha)
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.
“Through our collaboration with Hochschule Koblenz and AG Career Hub, we have successfully trained and deployed three cohorts of nursing graduates to Germany. These success stories stand as a testament to what structured partnerships can achieve,” said Jaganyi.
“At MKU, we have invested heavily to ensure that our training meets global standards. We have redesigned our curricula to align with industry needs, introduced comprehensive German language proficiency programs, and adopted competency-based education models that equip our graduates with the skills required to excel in international markets. These initiatives ensure that our students are not only academically prepared but also culturally and professionally ready to integrate into the German labour market.”
The university has a similar partnership with Lebenshilfe Tirol of Austria that also enables nursing graduates from the Kenyan university to work in Austria.
Already, more than 80 MKU-trained nursing graduates have started work in Germany and Austria. MKU is currently training another cohort of 25 students who will leave the country later this year.
