Mount Kenya University (MKU) has once again reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap between education and industry by sending off its third cohort of trained healthcare apprentices to Germany. The 12 students, who have completed their healthcare training at MKU, departed on Friday to begin their careers in Germany’s healthcare sector.
This marks the third group of students to benefit from the university’s strategic partnership with German institutions, following two previous cohorts that left for Germany last year. The initiative is part of MKU’s broader goal of ensuring its graduates are industry-ready and globally competitive.
The university also welcomed the fourth cohort of students, who will now undergo training in healthcare and the German language as they prepare for deployment later this year. This training is integral to the program, ensuring that students not only acquire the necessary technical skills but also develop language proficiency, easing their transition into the German workforce.
MKU’s partnership with prestigious institutions such as Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), AG-Career Hub (Germany), and Caritas Hospital in Bad Mergentheim & Tauberbischofsheim has been instrumental in the program’s success. These collaborations provide young Kenyan professionals with paid apprenticeships and job opportunities in Germany’s healthcare sector.
During a send-off ceremony on Wednesday, the students in Cohort 3 were presented with their work permits, visas, and air tickets. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Vincent Gaitho, chairman of the MKU University Council, emphasized the importance of linking education with industry. He highlighted MKU’s progress in ensuring that its training programs align with the needs of the job market, particularly in the healthcare sector.
“This collaboration is a manifestation of true academia-industry linkage. The students who left in previous cohorts are already working, and you are also going to join the world of work,” Prof. Gaitho remarked.
Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, MKU’s Vice Chancellor, reiterated the university’s dedication to skills development, stating, “This initiative represents the success of a transformative program that is creating global career opportunities for Kenyan youth.”
MKU continues to play a vital role in reducing inequalities and supporting dignified migration through skill-based employment, providing its graduates with a pathway to international careers while enhancing Kenya’s global presence in the healthcare industry.
