The Inter-University Council for East Africa has wrapped up a four-country sprint to decide which universities will host the next cohort of students under the expanded EAC Scholarship Programme, a pound 9 million initiative funded by Germany.
Between June 15 and 18, IUCEA teams crisscrossed Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, inspecting lecture halls, labs, hostels and support systems at 22 shortlisted universities. The visits mark the final vetting stage before IUCEA picks which institutions will admit scholars in Phase II of the programme.
The assessments followed an open call that drew applications from 37 IUCEA member universities. A desk review cut the list to 22, triggering the on-site inspections that ended yesterday.
What exactly were they checking? IUCEA’s teams audited academic and research capacity, student welfare services, grievance handling, and the administrative capacity needed to ensure scholars complete their programmes. The goal: guarantee that scholarship recipients land in universities equipped for quality teaching, innovation, and a smooth student experience.
In Kenya, the assessment covered Murang’a University of Technology, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Strathmore University, Egerton University, United States International University-Africa, Daystar University, KCA University, Kibabii University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Chuka University and Kabarak University.
In Rwanda, visits were conducted at the University of Rwanda and Institut Supérieur d’Enseignement de Ruhengeri.
In Tanzania, the institutions visited were Dar es Salaam University College of Education, the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre, the University of Dar es Salaam, the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, the University of Dodoma and Sokoine University of Agriculture.
In Uganda, the exercise included Busitema University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Nkumba University.
The EAC Scholarship Programme is designed to fuel regional integration through student mobility, widen access to quality higher education, and build a skilled workforce to drive East Africa’s socio-economic transformation. Phase II expands that ambition with fresh German funding.
Beyond picking host institutions, IUCEA says the exercise has deepened ties with universities to advance the East African Common Higher Education Area.
Findings from this week’s assessments will determine which universities make the final cut to host the upcoming cohorts. Selected institutions will be expected to provide ‘high-quality learning environments that support academic success, innovation, and regional integration,’ IUCEA noted.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to working with partner states, universities and development partners to build the human capital East Africa needs for sustainable growth.
For the 22 universities on the list, the next step is a waiting game. For students eyeing the scholarships, the pool of possible destinations just got clearer.