USIU-AFRICA FORMALLY COMMISSIONS SECOND COHORT OF SCHOLARS

USIU-Africa formally commissions second cohort of Scholars under the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program

 

 

 

 

By Ednah Kiarie

 

 

 

 

USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation formally commissioned

the second cohort of 48 Scholars under the Mastercard Foundation

Scholars Program, bringing the total number of Scholars recruited

under the program to 70.

 

 

 

 

The Scholars are drawn from a pool of 3,500 applicants drawn from

various parts of the country, as well as from the African continent.

So far, the program has recruited 68 percent women and 33 percent

male into the program with 48 percent of the Scholars are enrolled

in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

and 42 percent are enrolled in the Humanities program respectively.

 

 

 

 

Last year, the Mastercard Foundation partnered with USIU-Africa to

launch the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa,

which will see 1,000 students from across the continent educated

over 10 years at a cost of $63.2 million (Kshs. 6.8 billion).

 

 

 

 

The Program will recruit a diverse student body, which will include

700 women, 250 refugees, displaced youth and 70 persons with

disability who will be will be placed in 11 programs which will

provide skills training, leadership development, counselling,

mentoring, internships and career services. The program will also

educate, prepare and transition young people from disadvantaged

backgrounds into the labour market as leaders who can inspire

socio-economic transformation.

 

 

 

 

In his remarks, USIU-Africa’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Paul Zeleza

noted that the Scholars Program was aligned with the University’s

mission of promoting discovery and application of knowledge and

transitioning young people into gainful employment.

 

 

 

 

“We are glad to be part of Mastercard Foundation’s expanding

global network of partners committed to developing a generation of

African leaders who will use their knowledge and skills to lead

change in their communities, and contribute to meaningful

transformation across the continent,” he said.

 

 

 

 

“As an institution, we are honoured to be part of the Scholars

Program, and it is indeed gratifying to see that we have managed to

recruit our second cohort of students, who will have the chance to

experience a truly global education here at USIU-Africa,” he added.

Mastercard Foundation’s Head of Scholars Program, Prof. Phil

Cotton congratulated the Scholars on their achievement, noting that

they were now on their way to becoming catalysts for change who

would now be responsible for uplifting their communities.

 

 

 

 

 

“As recipients of the Mastercard Foundation Program Scholarships,

you are now in a position that allows you to give back to your

communities, and serve as actors of change. You are our

ambassadors and role models for young people across the country

and across the continent,” he said.

 

 

 

 

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa will

provide full-cost scholarships to young Africans who are first-time

undergraduate degree-seeking applicants. By completion of their

studies, scholars will be required to lead changes in their

communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across

the continent, having been equipped with internationally

recognized and locally applicable qualifications.