Varsity students tipped on EU-funded scholarships
University students have been urged to apply for Masters degree scholarships in European institutions offered under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree programme.
Speaking during an open forum at the University of Nairobi, beneficiaries of the fully-funded programme boasted how they flew to Europe to study in one university but ended up with degrees from two or three institutions.
Erasmus+ is a European Union (EU) project that has been running for more than 30 years.
It encourages applications for scholarship and exchange programme opportunities for undergraduate students wishing to pursue masters degrees in Europe.
In 2019, only 13 Kenyans won the scholarship, despite Kenya having a well-educated workforce, since too few applied. About 2,000 students have gained globally since inception.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue said this year’s edition of the Erasmus+ study is open for applications and closes on February 20, 2020.
“Institutions in 10 European nations — Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, UK, Italy, Hungary, France and Ireland are participating,” he said.
“As EU, we are planning in the near future to triple funds for the Erasmus Scholarship. We are looking to promote immigration in an academically friendly way,” he added.
German envoy to Kenya Annett Günther said her country is the fourth most popular student destination in the world because of research influence and the close links between academic theory and research.
University of Nairobi (UoN) Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof Julius Ogeng’o, said the project connects the UoN with the rest of the world. “It’s in our interest that this partnership continues,” he said.
