By Eddah Waithaka
The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has launched a call for applications from prospective students, called the East African Community Student Mobility Scheme (EAC-SMS).
However, due to the challenges encountered during the application process, a multi-stakeholder consultation meeting was organised in Nairobi, Kenya on 14-15 March 2024.
During the meeting, there were discussions on challenges and a chart of common understanding on the most appropriate approach for the implementation of the scholarship programme.
The two days’ meeting will primarily seek to:
- To enhance an understanding of the EAC-SMS among now the participating institutions.
- To discuss and agree on appropriate approach to operationalise the EAC-SMS.
- To enhance EAC-SMS implementation guidelines that are agreed upon by all parties.
- To revise and agree on the call for applications.
In addition, the programme itself has several benefits that are designed to involve different stakeholders, ranging from universities, business, NGOs, development partners, guardians or parents, etc. These benefits include
- Contribute to a key pillar of regional integration, namely the Common Market Protocol as graduates of this programs will be able to move their skills from one partner state to another.
- Provide an opportunity to benchmark against each other and ultimately improve the quality of our academic and professional programs.
- Fast track implementation of the EAC Common Higher Education Area as institutions are expected to operationalize mutual recognition of qualifications, credit accumulation and transfer.
- Boost internationaization of our member universities.
- Support EAC Partner States to address key human resource deficiencies.
- Revive more mobility of students in the region.
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The two year scholarship will only apply to students not older than 22 yrs of age, be excellent in academic performance with a B in Mathematics and English, should have completed their pre university level of education in their home country in 2022 or 2023 and be citizens and residents of East Africa Community Partner States which includes: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and DRC.
“To conclude, it is my sincere hope that through our discussions in this meeting, we shall go down annals of history as having taken positive steps towards the integration of East Africa through the this proposed scholarship programme.
As IUCEA, we pledge to offer all the support it takes to actualize this initiate. We welcome all recommendations that will come out from the discussions and expect to finally officially launch this programme for the upcomming academic year, ” said Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY IUCEA.
