Started on a humble grounds now scaling the heights
By The Mountain Journal Crew
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has been ranked
among the top five destinations for international students from Africa and
beyond in a recent study released by CPS Research International.
CPS Research International is a market and
social research company registered in Kenya, and which has cut a niche for specialised
research in Africa.
In the private universities category, MKU
emerged third, while in terms of satisfaction, MKU was ranked fourth at 57.05
per cent.
“International students preferred some
universities to others because of high quality of education, affordability
aspects, high global ranking, great culture, holistic education, good placement
and internship offers,” reads the report.
The reputation and global ranking of the
universities, the cost of programmes they teach, quality of education and ease
of accessing accommodation are some of the factors that attract foreign
students.
Location of the university, type and duration of the courses offered,
clearly defined academic calendars, cost of living and availability of
international students’ support desk in the respective institutions also
influence foreigners’ choices.
Overall, the state of national security,
immigration rules, culture of the country and ease of getting employed
influence students’ choice to study in Kenya.
The University of Nairobi has the highest
number of foreigners, with nearly 1,300 international students enrolled. Second
was United States International University (USIU) with 1,100 students while
Strathmore came third with 660.
MKU was fourth with 560while Kenyatta University
closes the top five institutions with international appeal with 472 students
enrolled. Overall, there are 6,202 foreign students in Kenya.
The study, conducted between January and
February this year, targeted international university students and administrators
in 71 institutions.Ugandans constitute the highest number of foreign students
in the mentioned institutions, according to the study. Other big groups come
from South Sudan, Tanzania, Somalia and Nigeria, respectively. The others are
spread across Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Malawi and
Zimbabwe. “Most of them are youth aged 18-24 years at 54.1 per cent,
undertaking undergraduate courses,” according to the report.
Popular degree courses with foreigners are
business and economics, engineering, medical studies, teacher training and
education, natural science and ICT. Law and other social and behavioral
sciences, humanities, media and journalism are also in demand.
Meanwhile, Mku Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius
Jaganyi says the institution has transited all its programmes to the online
delivery mode in compliance with presidential public order no. 2 of 2021 on the
coronavirus pandemic.
In an address to the nation on March 26, 2021,
President Uhuru Kenyatta directed an immediate suspension of all on-going
physical learning save for candidates sitting for examinations and those in
medical training. “MKU has heavily invested in necessary ICT
support systems with online connectivity and strong hotspots within the
Campuses and Open Distance and Electronic Learning Centres,” says the VC.
However, MKU, being among the institutions
offering medical training in the College of Health Sciences, has embraced
itself to enhance face-to-face delivery of the concerned medical and health
programmes.
He tipped students and staff they can still
access the premises and benefit from the connectivity within the campuses while
observing social distance and all other Ministry of Health covid-19 preventive
and containment protocols. “We have identified staff and students in the most
vulnerable category for particular attention and support,” added Prof Jaganyi.
He said library
services are available to students and staff while observing necessary
protocols with adjusted operational hours.
However, the digital library is
accessible 24/7 at eresources.mku.ac.ke portal. Preparations
are also underway for online registration and orientation of new students in
April and May intakes.
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