The University on Tuesday August 1, 2023 flagged off 60 students set to travel to the Arava region in Israel. The flagging of was held after a thorough pre-departure training for the students. Sixty (60) students from the University of Nairobi have been admitted to the AICAT program for the 2023/2024 intake.

The Government of Kenya and the State of Israel signed a Jerusalem Declaration on February 2016 for an 11 months’ experiential internship program in Israel for Kenyan University graduates pursuing Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.  The program is run in partnership with Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Israel that mentors students on professional, theoretical and practical knowhow and skills in advanced agricultural studies, based on ‘Learning by Doing’.  About 480 students from Kenya and 150 from UoN have benefitted from this prestigious program since its inception in 2016.

The pre-departure preparation training covered various areas including being Physically, Mentally, Financially and emotionally prepared for the program. Other areas covered included packing for international travel, departure from the JKIA airport, connecting flights at Dubai/Bole International Airport, arrival in Tel Aviv, Program Terms and Conditions, Financial Management Tips, Professionalism and 21st Century Skills as presented by Naomi Nyaboga, Section Head, Office of Career Services. “We expect you to uphold your ethical and moral values and be good ambassadors of the University of Nairobi during your 11 months stay in Israel reiterated Ms. Naomi Nyaboga.

The UoN Office of Career Services has since 2017 sent students to Israel to learn extensive agricultural skills. “Today we flag off 60 more and wish them well as they embark on this 11 months journey of hard work” said Mr. Johnson Kinyua, Dean of Students University of Nairobi.

AICAT Alumni represented by the outgoing Student Leader Sharon Namu, incoming student leader, Jesse Obimbo, Ebby Soita and Diana Shianda mentored the students on overcoming challenges and taking advantage of opportunities during the AICAT Program.

The pre-departure training was crowned by the flagging off of the students by the Ag. Vice Chancellor and DVC Academic Affairs, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o. He wished the students well and reminded them of their duty as Ambassadors of the University of Nairobi.