The Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, on Friday, March 6, received a delegation of representatives from German healthcare institutions and industry seeking to explore partnerships that would facilitate employment opportunities for JKUAT graduates in Germany, particularly in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing.
The interest follows the impressive performance of more than 30 JKUAT alumni who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy under the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and have, in recent years, been recruited and qualified to work in Germany.
In her welcoming remarks, Prof. Ngumi lauded the recruitment initiative, noting that it aligns with the University’s internationalization agenda, which has largely been advanced through student and staff exchange programmes, as well as research collaborations supported by international funding agencies such as the European Union.
She further highlighted that JKUAT, through its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institute at the Karen Campus, has already introduced German language training to support students seeking employment opportunities in Germany. So far, 20 nursing students have completed the language training programme.
Prof. Ngumi added that the university would want to expand the German language programme to the main campus to enable more students interested in pursuing careers in Germany to benefit from the training.
The Vice Chancellor was accompanied by Deputy Vice Chancellors Prof. Jackson Kwanza (Research, Production and Extension) and Prof. Thuku Thiong’o (Acting Academic Affairs), as well as staff from the College of Health Sciences (COHES) led by the Principal Dr. Reuben Thuo. She expressed hope that similar partnerships could be extended to other health disciplines and programmes offered at JKUAT.
Leading the German delegation was Armin Rupp, Director of African Business Community Limited (ABC Limited), who noted that their organization has been impressed by the quality and professionalism of JKUAT graduates working in Germany.
He observed that employers have expressed satisfaction with the graduates’ performance, noting that during interviews conducted prior to deployment, the students demonstrate confidence and strong professional competence. Mr. Rupp also praised the graduates for their ability to quickly learn the German language, which enables them to integrate more easily into German society and workplaces.
Mr. Armin further explained that beyond the recruitment process conducted in Kenya, ABC Limited supports the graduates through mentorship and coordinates their relocation to Germany, while also assisting them to adapt to the new cultural and work environment.
His co-director, Rachael Kyalo, said the organization initially pursued a partnership with JKUAT because of the strength of the University’s Physiotherapy curriculum. She noted that, based on their academic transcripts, JKUAT graduates do not require additional bridging certifications to align with German training standards.
Upon arrival in Germany, the graduates are required to sit for a professional certification examination that qualifies them to practice as physiotherapists in Germany. According to Ms. Kyalo, JKUAT graduates have consistently passed the examination on their first attempt.
Globally, the demand for rehabilitation and other health professionals continues to grow due to ageing populations, rising cases of stroke and cardiovascular disease, trauma resulting from road traffic accidents, work-related injuries, and increasing recognition of disability rights. The demand is particularly high in Europe.
According to Mr. Tobias Niklas, Vice President of the German Association for Physiotherapy (VPT), Germany alone currently has an estimated 30,000 vacancies for physiotherapy professionals.
The Vice Chancellor of JKUAT, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi (centre), joins representatives from German healthcare institutions and industry, alongside members of the university community, for a group photo after discussions on facilitating employment opportunities for graduates in Germany.