Nairobi: Skilled Kenyans seeking employment opportunities in Russia and other Russian-speaking countries are set to benefit from free Russian language training following a partnership between Path to Russia, a non-governmental organization (NGO), and ICS Technical College. The partnership will see the introduction of a free three-month online Russian language course taught by native Russian-speaking tutors, equipping learners with language skills needed to compete for jobs abroad while also promoting educational and cultural exchange.
According to Kenya News Agency, ICS Chief Principal Michael Nyamweya, speaking during the ICS Technical College inter-campus games sponsored by Path to Russia, said language has long been one of the biggest obstacles preventing qualified Kenyans from accessing employment opportunities in Russia and other Russian-speaking nations. ‘Language has been a barrier and a hindrance to accessing job markets and other opportunities in that region,’ he said.
Nyamweya explained that the programme is designed to bridge that gap by enabling students to communicate effectively in Russian, making them more competitive in the international job market. He added that the course will be examined at the intermediate level and is open to current ICS students, while other interested applicants will be able to enroll in future intakes. The first cohort is expected to begin classes on July 13.
Nyamweya welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), saying the partnership would not only expand opportunities for students but also boost the college’s visibility and attract more enrolment. ‘We expect students interested in exploring overseas job opportunities to know that they now have more options. We believe this will encourage more students to enroll in the course,’ he said.
Path to Russia Chairperson Charity Mueni stated that the initiative aims to expand foreign language learning in Kenya while preparing young people for opportunities in the global labour market. She mentioned that the NGO’s partnership with Moscow National Polytechnic will provide native Russian-speaking instructors to train Kenyan students. ‘This free three-month programme will be conducted online, and we hope to introduce physical classes in the future,’ she said.
Path to Russia has also signed similar Memoranda of Understanding with Michuki National Polytechnic in Murang’a County and Ngenyilel TVET in Uasin Gishu County as it seeks to expand access to Russian language training across the country.
