EU rolls out drive to recruit students for European universities

Left: Emmanuel Mueti representative of ESCE France, Pauline Wangari representative of Technological University of the Shannon Ireland, Professor Gelu-Ovidiu Tirian of Politehnica Uni of Timisoara Romania, Kenyalyn Mwangi representative of ESCE during a networking event ahead of the fair tomorrow at Sarit Centre. [James Wanzala, Standard]

The European Union Delegation to Kenya has embarked on a recruitment drive for Kenyan students to study in Member States.

This will be through organising a Study in Europe Fair that will be held on April 5, 2025.

Representatives from 37 universities and institutions from nine European countries are currently in Nairobi.

They will meet interested students and faculty from Kenyan universities to connect on possible collaborations and to inform Kenyan students on available study opportunities.

The Study in Europe Fair, features representatives from EU countries Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Spain and Sweden.

It is part of a wider education fair, which also includes leading universities from other parts of the world such as the University of Granada, St Xavier Cabrini University, Catholic University of America and others.

The Fair will be held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Westlands, Nairobi, and it is open to the interested public, prospective students and parents.

"The European Union is an excellent study destination, offering high quality study and research programmes. Under our Erasmus + programme, which also offers scholarships for Masters studies, we are strengthening collaborations between European universities and higher education institutions with their Kenyan counterparts," said European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger ahead of the fair.

She added: "Studying in the European Union is a life changing experience and students will discover a rich cultural experience that speaks to our motto, 'Unity in Diversity.'

The European Union offers quality study and research programmes and simplified mobility from one country to another and possible employment opportunities after graduation."

Ambassador Geiger added that most study programmes are offered in English language.

The European Union is one of the world's most popular destination for student mobility, with more than 6,000 higher education institutions offering thousands of Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral degrees and short stay programmes.

The flagship Erasmus Plus programme, which supports education, training and youth, has earmarked a quarter of its funding - some 570 million euro - for partnerships that are focused on education needs in sub-Saharan Africa.

From April 2 to 5, 2025, the European Union has held several education-related events, including a networking session that brought together European and Kenyan university representatives and a regional seminar held at Strathmore University.

The regional seminar focused on the labour market prospects of African graduates after their Erasmus experience.

The European Union is engaged in supporting initiatives that tackle the shortage of skills and boost job creation in Africa.