British Council holds first education UK oil and gas exhibition in Nairobi

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations the British Council has today organized an exhibition bringing together over a dozen local and international education institutions, government officials as well as other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

According the organizations country director Tony Reilly the exhibitions that started with a forum bringing together over 70 stakeholders discussed topics ranging on how higher education ca support the Kenyan oil and gas sector, social development requirements of oil and gas discoveries  as well as international collaboration that can happen between local and British institutions.

“Our aspiration for this exhibition over networking is to enable conversations between Kenyan and British universities that can lead to actual partnerships,” Reilly told OilNews Kenya.

Among local universities that participated in the event included KCA university, University of Nairobi, Strathmore University and Kabarak University.

Ten British universities that took part and showcased their courses included: Robert Gordon University, University of Aberdeen, Univesity of Dundee, Newcastle University, Coventry University, University of East London, University of Scotland, Abertay University as well as the Navitas Colleges and University partners.

“Through today’s exhibition we also hope we can give many young people interested in a career in oil and gas an opportunity to talk to British Universities,” added Reilly.

The country director also acknowledged that the exhibition should have included financial partners given that cost remains amongst the biggest barrier to many local students accessing education abroad.

Local Universities who talked to OilNews Kenya said they were hoping to forge partnerships with the British Universities that would enable them replicate some of the courses offered locally enabling more Kenyans to access them.

Already various institutions are in talks with Strathmore University having confirmed their partnership with the University of Aberdeen in the creation of new programmes.

According to statistics from the British Council at least 2000 Kenyans are accessing education in the United Kingdom at any moment.

A similar exhibition and forum will be held in Kampala, Uganda tomorrow.