MKU sends 27 nursing apprentices to Germany as youth seek jobs abroad

The trend reflects a wider shift among graduates who, faced with limited opportunities locally, are turning to structured training programmes that offer both skills development and direct pathways into international labour markets.

Sectors such as healthcare, maritime and technology have become key routes for job seekers targeting employment abroad, prompting learning institutions to align their programmes with global standards and strengthen international partnerships.

It is against this backdrop that Mount Kenya University (MKU) has continued to expand its overseas training initiatives, particularly in the healthcare sector, where demand for skilled workers remains strong in countries such as Germany.

The university has now flagged off its fifth cohort of nursing apprentices, comprising 27 students, who are set to leave for Germany on April 1, 2026, to begin training within the country’s healthcare system.

The latest group brings the total number of beneficiaries under the programme to 81 students since its launch in 2023.

Responding to global labour demand

MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said the programme is part of the university’s broader efforts to equip students with practical skills and international exposure while deepening partnerships with foreign institutions.

He said the university is also working to strengthen its German language training capacity, including plans to establish a TELC examination centre to support local certification in language proficiency.

Jaganyi noted that the nursing apprenticeship is one of several initiatives the university is using to position its graduates for opportunities in the global labour market.

University Council Chairman Dr Vincent Gaitho said the programme reflects the need for institutions of higher learning to align training with shifting labour market demands, both locally and internationally.

He said such initiatives are also intended to instill professionalism and workplace discipline among graduates preparing to work in competitive international environments.

Partnership with German institutions

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences and AG-Career Hub in Germany, which support curriculum development, mentorship and student integration into the German healthcare system.

Under the arrangement, apprentices are placed in healthcare facilities across cities including Bad Mergentheim, Göttingen, Pirmasens and Alzey.

Some of the students selected for the programme, among them Michael Abonye and Yvonne Ongwache, said the opportunity offers a clear route to professional growth, international exposure and stable employment.

Their departure comes at a time when overseas labour mobility is increasingly being viewed by many Kenyan graduates as a practical response to unemployment and underemployment at home.