Students should know various agencies that can help them secure merit-based study-abroad opportunities in universities and colleges found outside Kenya. Studying abroad is a fantastic phenomenon. For through it, students travel abroad in pursuit of best forms of education.
A classic case of study-abroad mission reminds us of the spellbinding orator – Tom Mboya. Professor B.A Ogot pens it in his latest heroic book titled Tom Mboya: Life, Death and Disintegration of the Nascent Enterprise ‘Project Kenya’. Tom Mboya’s greatest gift to Africa was the philanthropic project of Kenyan Student Airlifts to America, which happened from 1959 to 1961. It is a unique story in the sense that the influx of Kenyans probably represented the largest wave of international students to arrive from a single country in such a short time to study in the United States and Canada. Robert F. Stephens called it Educational Odyssey.
The first trip of 1959 had 81 students. The second one of 1960 had 288 students. In this special trip, besides Kenyan students, a few students came from other parts of East and Central Africa. The third airlift was in 1961 where over 300 students went to the United States to ‘eat’ books and ‘drink’ knowledge. The beneficiaries came from all parts of Kenya, selected majorly on merit.
Some of the notable beneficiaries of the airlift included Pamela Odede – daughter of Fanuel Walter Odede, and the future wife of Tom Mboya. There was Philip Ochieng’ – the grammatical guru and great journalist. Professor Wangari Maathai, the eco-warrior and Nobel Laureate, was also part of it. Then there was Barrack Obama Senior – the father of the 44th POTUS – Barrack Obama Junior.
Among Tom Mboya’s scions, it is the last born, Dr. Susan Mboya, wife to Dr. Evans Kidero; that has kept this bright light ablaze. She epitomises her father’s vision of modern education for national development. Since 2002, Dr. Susan Mboya, who worked for Coca-Cola in South Africa, has been running a similar programme – the Zawadi Educational Fund – which sponsors belles who are bright but financially famished. She has been bankrolling girls’ studies locally, in Canada, United States and South Africa. When the philanthropic drive started in 2002, only two good girls benefitted, but by 2009, 86 girls had received hope and help through it.
Largely, study-abroad chances provide good transition into universities or colleges based abroad. The opportunity provides coveted chances marked with exhilarating exposure and excellent experiences. They provide infinite spectra of opportunities. This becomes possible through study-abroad agencies like Uniabroad, Imperial Education Consultants, Swiss Education Consultants, Edu-USA, Edu-Canada, Educare International, Universe Education, UNIPSS, Transworld, Education Consultants, Uni-SERV Education, Finds-Admission, Craydel and many more.
The golden goal is to help students see beyond the sea. In most of the career counselling programmes we roll out in schools, there are students who ask quality questions; they make enquires on how they can fly like birds, and study beyond the Kenyan borders. This is a dream that can come true. For dreams are seedlings of reality. What such students ought to know is that these are competitive chances, which behooves them to garner good grades in KCSE. Scoring top grades and above, is the best way to go about it.
For them to apply to study abroad, they need scanned copies of: (a) KCSE certificates, (b) international passport, (c) data pay, and any other requisite document(s). When making applications, plenty of factors determine whether it would sail through or not. A gap of 6 months after KCSE will give the applicant(s) an upper hand. In case it happens after one year, the applicant(s) will be required to give sufficient reasons for the late application. Application fee can surface if need be.
Before the student applies to matriculate into universities based abroad, it is imperative to consider accreditation details and ranking facts. It is not just about getting excited to go and study abroad, but it is all about becoming objective in such puissant pursuits. Discretion should reign. So that in the end, it does not become a wild goose chase.
Moreover, scholarship opportunities are open to all students who are interested. Somehow, the Kenyan government collaborates with other governments to facilitate fantastic exchange programmes. In the good book titled Career Manual, Godiah Rocky Imbukuleh and Benjamin Nzioka posit that: to secure a scholarship opportunity in a country like China, the student can start by downloading the application forms from the Ministry of Education (MoE) website: http://www.education.go.ke/.
Then, s/he can proceed to the preliminary application form and attach the required certified, supporting documents – photocopies of national identity card, academic or professional certificates, transcript, birth certificate and other testimonials – a proposal in the area of study and a copy of the online submitted Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) application form. There should be submission of three sets of the hard copy of the preliminary application form from the MoE and CSC application form with all the certified copies to the Directorate of University Education.
The story of Naphtali Haya, splashed in the Standard some time back, was both interesting and inspirational. The striking stripling managed to beat all odds to graduate with sterling degree in Engineering from the top-tier Harvard University. The lad who pursued his secondary education at Alliance High School (AHS) was among the 141 students who scored a straight A in the 2016 KCSE.
During the varsity placements, Haya secured an opportunity to pursue Medicine at the University of Nairobi (UoN). However, while at AHS, Haya’s eyes were able to see beyond the sea. Through a certain alumnus of AHS, the lad felt glad when he learnt about KenSAP (Kenya Scholar Access Program); which assists brilliant students hailing from vulnerable homes to matriculate into prestigious universities in America.
Through KenSAP, this gentle giant made application to pursue his tertiary education in Harvard University. Fortunately, he was able to access success. Studying in that Ivy League university opened up a completely new world for Haya. Not only did he get to interact with the diverse cultural backgrounds, but he also had the crucial chance to meet and greet bright brains from different parts of the world.
Besides acquiring his sterling degree, Haya’s greatest academic achievement while at Harvard was his Senior Capstone Project, which is a requirement for all Engineering students. Somewhat, his project emerged as the best, which made him to scoop the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Engineering Project. It is worth to note that the Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) doles out the highly-coveted award in recognition of exceptional capstone work.
Again, I can say in this essay that in 2022, through Equity Group Foundation Education Leadership Development Programme, around 73 students joined top universities in the world. Fortunately, the nascent scholars matriculated in Ivy League institutions in countries such as US, UK, Canada, China, India and Germany. 5 joined Pennsylvania, 3 joined to Harvard, 2 went to Princeton, 2 matriculated into Dartmouth, 2 went to Cornel, 1 joined Brown and 1 went to Columbia. There was a cohort of 7 of them who were part of the Equity Bank Rwanda’s Inaugural Equity Leadership Programme Class.
The 2022 global airlift cohort benefited from scholarships valued at Sh 2.8 Billion to cover the duration they will undertake their undergraduate study. They received an airlift stipend to support their transition preparation. They also secured full scholarship plus a 2-week-long boot camp. They went through coaching and mentorship on transition journey as global scholars.
It is instructive to note that securing a scholarship opportunity to study abroad comes with a fair share of merits and demerits. On merits, when a student gets a scholarship, the money saunters straight to the college tuition – and sometimes on books, air ticket and upkeep. Scholarship money is not refundable as the one dished out by the Higher Loans Board (HELB). Pursuing a degree abroad gives the graduate cache of unique expertise, exposure and experience. It expands the graduate’s worldview. In the process, there is a lot of skills enhancement and development.
Nevertheless, studying abroad can come with chilling challenges and demerits. While studying abroad, students are hard-hit by culture shock, stereotypes and racism. Learning a new language and making friends may be a daunting task. The student can suffer cash crunch when the tranche is over. Upon completion of studies, meeting the conditions to practise some careers back in the country can be a bit tedious and tiresome. A classic case is Law as a profession. For the lawyer to start a law firm or represent clients in Kenyan courts, the attorney must first enroll for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law at the Kenya School of Law (KSL). The programme takes around one year.
© Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out career talks and training services in schools. He trains Career Counsellors on how to run effective career programmes. He guides Form 2 students on Selection of Subjects and Form 4 Candidates on Selection of University and College Courses. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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