Ireland has invited Kenyan university students and staff to apply for scholarships to study in universities in the country to broaden their knowledge and experience. However, there is a caveat: the students must return to Kenya upon completion of their studies.

Irish ambassador to Kenya Catriona Ingoldsby announced that there are numerous opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students to learn in her country, hence urged many university students to apply to study courses of their choice in Ireland.

The envoy spoke at Maasai Mara University during a European Film Festival attended by Deputy Head of Missions of the European Union in Kenya Ondrej Simek and Maasai Mara University Vice Chancellor Prof Peninah Aloo.

“We have a number of scholarship programmes that we offer under the government’s education and research schemes. We are happy to share this information with the Maasai Mara University fraternity,” she said.

The ambassador encouraged the beneficiaries of the programmes to come back home and offer the rich experience and knowledge gained in Ireland to their country in a bid to develop Kenya’s economy.

“We are very conscious that Kenya will have a great experience in Ireland, and we are positive they will come back and build their country. We look forward to see a flow of people to Ireland and back in Kenya,” Ms Ingoldsby said.

She lauded Maasai Mara University for its efforts to lead in environmental conservation and climate change mitigation.

Simek acknowledged the rich experience opportunities the EU offers to learners in Kenya, calling on university students and researchers to take the opportunity to apply for scholarship.

“We are here to promote education opportunities that EU offers to students and academic staff. The opportunities will offer exciting experiences and exposure to the beneficiaries,” he stated.

He revealed that the EU had given €10 million to help in the regeneration of Maasai Mau Forest, saying the World Wide Fund will implement the programme.

The Varsity’s VC thanked the organisers of the event for considering the institution to hold the European Film Festival, saying it was the seventh university in Kenya to have such an opportunity. She said that the university would take advantage of the available scholarship programmes to send their students and members of staff abroad.

“Universities are expected to raise money and one of the sources of funds is research grants. We are very happy to get such information and we promise to take advantage of these grants,” the VC said.

During the festival, the film on Mrs Mary Thomson, the first female president of Ireland was screened.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Ann Salaton