“Choose France Tour” comes back to Kenya

A delegation of 12 French higher education institutions went to Kenya from 7 to 9 November 2023 to participate in the new edition of “Choose France Tour”, organised by Campus France with the French embassy in Nairobi and Campus France Kenya. The delegation included:

• 5 business and management schools (ESCP Business School, IESEG, SKEMA Business School, ESCE, Excelia),
• 3 engineering schools (IMT Atlantique, IMT Mines Alès, CESI)
• 1 culinary school (Le Cordon Bleu)
• 1 network of institutions (FIGS Education)
• Sciences Po
• The University Centre of Mayotte (Université of Mayotte since January 1st 2024), which launches its internationalisation strategy and participated for the first time in an event organised by Campus France Africa.

Nairobi: a promising and successful step

The mission of the French delegation started in the Alliance française in Nairobi. French institutions had the opportunity to participate over the first day held in the presence of French ambassador Arnaud Suquet and Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Secretary of State for higher education, in meetings with representatives of the Embassy of France and in face-to-face meetings with representatives of Kenyan higher education institutions.

Speakers presented before French institutions a summed-up explanation of the political and economic situation in Kenya, they took stock of the ties between Kenya and France, presented systems supporting university and research cooperation, and announced the recent opening of the Open University of Kenya, which demands support in terms of online training, and particularly in the French as Foreign Language (FLE) course.

On the second day, the student fair held at the Alliance française in Nairobi welcomed more than 300 students, including many students from international lycées (high schools). French institutions had the opportunity to meet many quality profile students and applicants to studies in France, and particularly at Licence (Bachelor) level.

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© French embassy in Kenya

Eldoret:  a new step

For the third and last day of Choose France Kenya, the French delegation went for the first time to the MOI University, in Eldoret, located in the Western part of Kenya. The capital of Uasin Gishu County is famous for its significant university centre (one of the biggest in the country) and for its high number of local athletic champions. 

French institutions were present during the presentation of four local universities (Moi University, University of Eldoret, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Maseno University). They also had the opportunity to meet local students during a fair held in the afternoon.

Given the success of the step in Nairobi and the promising opportunities in Eldoret, holding another “Choose France Tour” in Kenya is considered in the coming years.