Varsities collaborate to promote education
What you need to know:
- The partnership will see Edulink offer diploma and degree courses in marketing, business, accounting and entrepreneurship at its Ngong Road campus in Nairobi.
- The partnership also came with scholarships for Kenyan students.
The United Kingdom-based University of Northampton on Thursday launched a partnership with Nairobi-based Edulink International College to offer three-year degree courses.
The launch was done at a dinner at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi’s Upperhill.
The partnership will see Edulink offer diploma and degree courses in marketing, business, accounting and entrepreneurship at its Ngong Road campus in Nairobi.
The deal will also give opportunity to students at the college to learn from UK lecturers.
The college has a capacity of 1,500 students after the Dubai-based Edulink picked Kenya as its headquarters and set up the facility at a cost of Sh300 million.
The degree and diploma programmes have been approved by the Commission for University Education.
“Our biggest area of interest at Edulink will be fanning the fire of entrepreneurship. Our students will be job creators,” said Prof Helen Mason, Edulink Group Academic Director.
Dr Holger Siemons, who represented the UK-based school, said that the partnership was not a seasonal one, but one which he said he hoped to stay in the long term.
"At the University of Northampton, we shape the expectations of students and bring employers close to them. Our commitment to supporting Edulink International College is not seasonal, but long term,” said Dr Siemons.
The Business Associate professor argued that the long time that graduates take to land job opportunities was slowing down development in many countries.
British Council Country Director Tony Reilly said that the signing of the partnership will go a long way in ensuring the success of students who will enrol for courses at the Edulink College.
“UK courses allow students to add ideas to what they learn daily and that's a unique component in education,” said Mr Reilly.
The partnership also came with scholarships for Kenyan students.
Among those who were awarded with the scholarships was popular emcee Thomas Kwaka, popularly known as Big Ted.
“Now, I can get a degree and stake out for the best life has to offer. My boss could only do so much, because the law has specific (academic) requirements,” said Big Ted.
