The European Union and Equity Group Foundation join forces to expand global education pathways for top performing Kenyan scholars
The agreement was signed by the European Union Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Henriette Geiger, and Dr. James Mwangi, Executive Chairman of Equity Group Foundation and Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group, in the presence of Principal Secretary for the State Department for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala and Principal Secretary State Department of Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak.
The cooperation agreement formalizes a shared commitment to expanding access to quality education, nurturing talent, and connecting young Kenyans to transformative learning pathways both within Kenya and across Europe. Through this agreement, the partners will collaborate to promote awareness of the EU’s education opportunities among Equity Leaders Program scholars and increase access to European academic opportunities.
The programme targets sending 100 Equity scholars annually to European universities for master’s degree programmes, creating a structured pathway for talented young Africans to access world-class education, research opportunities and international exposure.
Speaking during the signing, the European Union Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Henriette Geiger, said:
“The Equity Group Foundation, through its Wings to Fly and Equity Leaders Program is an ideal partner for us, with our shared objectives of promoting access to quality education, holistic development and intercultural exchanges as a key driver of growth and human capital development.”
Dr. Mwangi noted that the partnership underscores a strategic focus on developing globally competitive human capital through education-driven transformation.
“While our initial model focused on supporting students through public universities and structured internships, we are now deliberately diversifying global pathways for our scholars. This partnership builds on that journey. It is inspired by the need to broaden access beyond traditional destinations and create truly global opportunities,” he said.
“We view education not only as academic advancement but as a bridge to global networks, ideas, and leadership. These connections, across continents, institutions, and people, are what produce globally competitive leaders capable of transforming societies. In a world that is resetting and seeking new leadership, this partnership represents a bold step toward building human connections that unite Africa and Europe through shared knowledge, opportunity, and purpose.”
Erasmus+ is an EU flagship programme that supports education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Kenya is one of Europe’s strongest Erasmus+ partners in Africa. Every year, around 600 Kenyan students and academics travel to more than 30 European countries, while approximately 300 Europeans, mainly academic staff, come to Kenyan universities. These exchanges enrich individuals, strengthen institutions, and build lasting partnerships between Kenyan and European universities.
Equity Bank Kenya
Dr. Inyangala welcomed the partnership, noting that collaborations between Kenyan institutions and global education partners have expanded opportunities for students and academics while advancing knowledge exchange and innovation.
“Partnerships such as this create invaluable opportunities for our students, researchers and academics to access world-class education, advanced research, and international exposure. They also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and emerging technologies, enabling us to continuously strengthen our institutions and enrich our curricula to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy. As the State Department for Higher Education, we are fully committed to creating an enabling environment that will accelerate the realization of the objectives outlined in this MoU and ensure that more Kenyan scholars benefit from global learning opportunities,” said PS Inyangala.
The Equity Leaders Program (ELP), established in 1998, provides a structured pipeline for high-achieving students by supporting their transition from secondary education to global learning and leadership pathways. To date, more than 1,206 scholars from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have secured fully funded admission to leading global universities. ELP builds on the pathways created by Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarships, ensuring that academically gifted students receive mentorship, training, and exposure to become transformative leaders. In addition, the program has facilitated 10,505 paid internship opportunities, equipping scholars with practical work experience and enhancing their career readiness.
The partnership enhances Kenya’s strong participation in Erasmus+ , where the country has emerged as one of the most active partners in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2017, Kenyan organizations have participated in 38 Capacity Building projects, reflecting the country’s growing role in global higher education collaboration.
Nearly half of the €580 million allocated to Sub-Saharan Africa under Erasmus+ supports mobility between African and European higher education institutions. The collaboration is expected to further deepen institutional partnerships, expand scholarship opportunities, and strengthen long-term pathways for skills development and innovation-driven growth across the region.