MKU increases students pursuing healthcare careers in Germany.
MKU increases students pursuing healthcare careers in Germany.
Mount Kenya University will this week increase to 81 the number of healthcare students it has sent to Germany to pursue careers in healthcare.
The University early this week presented 27 students with travel documents, who are set to travel to Germany on Saturday, where they will work initially as paid apprentices and later absorbed in the country’s health care sector.
The students are part of a programme run by MKU and its partners in Germany that include Hochschule Koblenz University, which trains students in health care in Kenya and later deploys them in Germany’s healthcare sector, initially working as apprentices in different healthcare facilities and are later absorbed in the sector’s workforce.
Through the programme, MKU has since 2024 sent a total of 54 students in four cohorts to Germany. The 27 students departing for Frankfurt on Saturday will push the total number to 81 students.
“Today, in keeping with our motto of unlocking infinite possibilities, we are once again releasing 27 young people and ambassadors to Germany,” said Dr Vincent Gaitho, Chairman of the Mount Kenya University Council.
“This initiative reflects Mount Kenya University’s commitment to providing students with practical skills, global exposure, and career opportunities that prepare them adequately for the international job market. We seek to equip the world with well grounded graduates fit for global civil service.
Gaitho assured the students and parents that the programme was structured, formal and organised and that MKU and its partners keep tabs on the students while in Germany as they kickstart their careers.
The partnership between MKU and Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences of Germany offers paid apprenticeships and jobs to young Kenyans. The programme targets about 5,000 young Kenyans that are expected to benefit from the partnership over time.
Students interested in the opportunities are required to have German Language proficiency and pursue a preparatory programme in Nursing apprenticeship for German hospitals.
“This programme tries to build bridges between Germany and Kenya. It tries to help to initiate major changes in the general health care sector, and at the same time to create career opportunities for young people in Kenya,” said Christian Lebrenz, chairman of Germany’s Hochschule Koblenz University.
Germany and other developed markets offer opportunities in healthcare sectors, where due to their ageing population, there is a project shortfall of healthcare professionals in the coming years.
Various studies estimate a deficit of between 500,000 and 600,000 vacancies by 2030. One option to alleviate this shortage is preparation of young healthcare professionals from countries such as Kenya to take up opportunities.
Gaitho also noted that in addition to the nursing programme that ushers students to healthcare sector Germany, the MKU has other programmes that support labour mobility.
These include programmes offered by MKU’s Malindi Maritime Academy, which Lebrenz said supported students looking to work in the global maritime industry.
“I am pleased to report that in addition to the Nursing Apprenticeship program in Germany, the University has also established other programmes that support students’ mobility to the international job market,” he said.
“An example is the MKU Maritime Academy in Malindi that has to date trained a total of 1,065 students in Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) related programs, out of which 400 trainees have successfully secured placements in different ships through the following cruise lines; Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC cruises, Princess Cruises amongst others.”
MKU increases students pursuing healthcare careers in Germany.
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