India and Kenya bolster educational ties

India is bolstering educational ties with Kenya, aiming to foster human capital development, skills, and knowledge, which is seen as a crucial, sustainable alternative to Western and Asian models.

This strategy, according to Dr. Adarsh Swaika, the High Commissioner of India to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP & UN-Habitat, is rooted in South-South cooperation, which focuses on empowering Kenyan youth, providing affordable education, and enhancing digital literacy, with many Kenyan learners now seeking higher education opportunities abroad.

“Education has been one of the strongest links between the two countries…and this started in the 70s and 80s, and the trend has continued to date. So, such opportunities (the higher education fairs) are very relevant and beneficial for the younger generation, to first-hand meet many of the top private universities in India,” said Dr. Swaika.

He was speaking during the Kenya – India Higher Education and Skill Development Summit in Nairobi, organised by Educare International in collaboration with TIESGLOBAL – a platform that facilitates international education, career, and training opportunities, primarily connecting educational institutions with prospective students across the Middle East, Africa, and India. It acts as a platform for networking, promoting higher education programs, and assisting institutions with global student recruitment.

The Indian Ambassador to Kenya said the two nations will continue to work together in various areas, like visa processing, to facilitate higher education for Kenyan students seeking educational opportunities in India.

Indeed, visa applications for India and Kenya are generally faster compared to European markets or America and Canada due to the implementation of digitalized electronic systems (e-Visa/eTA) that allow for 24–72-hour processing, online document submission, and automated vetting. Both nations prioritize quick turnaround times—often 2-4 working days, in what Dr. Swaika says has gone a long way in enhancing tourism and business.

Acknowledging that many Kenyans in leadership positions and politicians in prominent roles have received their education in India, Bipin Sule, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vishwakarma Institutes & University, says the move is a wider plan by the Indian government to position its country as a global educational hub.

Through the ‘Study in India’ (SII) initiative, for instance, initially launched in 2018 and revamped in 2023, the flagship idea provides a single-window portal (www.studyinindia.gov.in) for international students to apply, obtain visas, and secure admissions with fee waivers in premier Indian universities.

The programme offers more than 2600 courses across various institutions in India to foreign students mainly from Africa. It brings together various scholarship and self-financing programmes to attract students from India’s partner countries, including Africa.