The Campus France Kenya and the French Embassy team in Kenya officially re-embarked on their university visits.
Officials from the French Embassy and Campus France Kenya paid visits to Moi University on the 29th of September 2020 and University of Eldoret on the 30th of September 2020 respectively, with the aim of meeting students who had an interest in furthering their studies in France, following up on Kenyan students who pursued their higher education in France and most importantly reinforce the existing collaborations and agreements on the higher education sector between Kenyan and French universities.
This marks the resumption of university visits which were put on hold over a period of months due to the Corona virus pandemic.
The team was received by the vice chancellor, Professor Isaac Sanga Kosgey and Professor Ambrose Kiprop who is the professor and dean of the school of Biological and physical sciences at Moi University, main campus.
Professor Kiprop is an alumnus of Université de Lorraine and has managed to keep strong links with faculty in the institution. Through this linkage, he was able to help students from Moi University pursue their PhD at Université de Lorraine. The two students, Sarah Cherono, now an assistant lecturer at Moi University, was also present during the visit, and Viola Kosgei, who is currently a teacher in France, are on their way to receiving lecturer positions at Moi University.
Other parties present during the visit were Deans, Heads of departments, French students, and beneficiaries of French scholarships such as Professor Eric Masese, a senior lecturer at the university, who was granted a scholarship to Université de Pau.
Professor Kosgey, was very receptive to the team and explained the huge role they played in the university’s growth. The vice chancellor pointed out that the university had received massive support from France such as the purchasing of the FTIR equipment from the university, and capacity building.
Professor Kosgey seeks to have Moi University forge new understandings with other French universities so as to equip students with the desired skills they need for their career choice.
At Eldoret University, the team was received by Doctor George Ariya who is the head of the tourism and tour operations management department along with David Wanina, an assistant lecturer and an alumnus of Université de Sorbonne, as well as French students. Through their linguistic department and their French club, the university is keeping alive the French language with the aim of creating long lasting relationships with universities in France in the near future.
Underlined during the visits at both universities was the need to provide a favourable environment for the ability of new and more collaborations to take place between the Kenyan and French universities.
The visits were fruitful and one key factor that was made clear during this trip is that both universities value the French language. The universities see the potential in the language and have tangible examples such as that of their professors who went through the French educational program and are back in Kenya willing to share knowledge gained with their students for a better future in their chosen work fields.
The French embassy seeks to reach out to more universities here in Kenya which are interested in sealing ties with French universities for the benefit of students.
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