| Nairobi
Exchange Program
A study abroad program in Kenya coordinated by
the African Studies Consortium of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore,
and University of Pennsylvania, with the University of Nairobi
(Institute
of African Studies)
The African Studies Consortium of Bryn Mawr, Haverford,
and Swarthmore Colleges and the University of Pennsylvania coordinates
a unique undergraduate study abroad program in Kenya.
Bryn Mawr College serves as the lead institution for this reciprocal
exchange which is designed to bring scholars from the University
of Nairobi to the U.S. for periods of study and research at
the Consortium member schools.
The Nairobi exchange is one of only a very few college-level
study programs for U.S. students in Africa. It offers a unique opportunity
for undergraduates to study African history, society, politics, religion,
arts and literature. The program permits students to learn about
traditional East African cultures as well as the complex issues arising
in a developing African nation. Students embarking on such a venture
in Africa must be ready to face both the excitement and the challenges
of living and studying in a developing country. Not every person may be
suited for the undertaking.
Prospective applicants should read the following information
and discuss their plans with their academic advisor and with their
study abroad advisor. For further details about the program, please
contact Jennifer Russell, Nairobi
Exchange Program Coordinator, Phone: 610-526-7473, Fax: 610-526-7471.
Highlights
An Introduction to Kenya
The University of Nairobi
The Academic Program
Homestay Program
Practical Information
Costs
Contingencies
Eligibility
How to Apply
HIGHLIGHTS
SEMESTER AVAILABLE: Spring semester (January-May
2004)
LANGUAGE: English is used in government administration
and in school instruction. Kiswahili is also a national language of Kenya
and is widely used as "lingua franca".
ELIGIBILITY: Students in their junior year who
have taken at least one African Studies relate course are best suited to
apply. Other with appropriate interests or experiences will also be considered.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM: Courses are taken at the University
of Nairobi and its Institute of African Studies. Options for independent
study and research may be available. Kiswahili instruction is also offered
as part of the program.
CREDITS: The program is considered to be one full
semester of academic work. Credits will be awarded by the student's
home institution.
LIVING ARRANGEMENT: Homestay program with Kenyan
families in Nairobi.
ON-SITE ADVISING: On site staff will provide orientation,
in country assistance and academic advising.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 15 for spring semester.
(Early applications will be considered under a rolling admissions
decision plan.)
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AN INTRODUCTION TO KENYA
KENYA
Kenya is a land of great diversity, both geographically
and culturally. An estimated 28.8 million people of more than 40 different
African ethnic and cultural identities live in an area roughly one and
a half times the size of California. The majority live in rural areas in
the highland plateaus of the southwestern quarter of the country.
A small but significant number of Arabs, Asians, and Europeans also call
Kenya their home.
Kenya is justly renowned for its scenery of epic proportions
and remarkable variety. Bordered to the east by the Indian Ocean, Kenya
boasts over 330 miles of magnificent coastline; to the west it reaches
inland as far as Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world and
source of the Nile River. Seventy percent of the country is
dominated by vast, semi-arid grasslands that support a bewildering variety
of wildlife and a number of pastoralist tribes. The Great Rift Valley cuts
though the center of the highlands and is 50 miles across in some areas
and 2000 ft. deep. Not far away are the two highest peaks on the African
continent, Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
NAIROBI
Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, is situated on the south
central plateau on the edge of the highlands slopes. It is the largest
city in East Africa boasting a population of well over one million and
is considered one of the continent's major cities. It serves the region
as a commercial, financial, and communications hub.
In its origin, Nairobi was an entirely artificial creation
of European settlers. At the turn of the last century the city was a supply
depot, switching yard, and campsite for the thousands of Indian laborers
who built the East Africa railway line from Mombasa on the coast to the
settled farm areas of the interior highlands. The original center
retains an Asian influence in its older buildings, but these are interspersed
today by many modern, glassy, high-rise office buildings.
Nairobi is a cosmopolitan place – lively, interesting,
and pleasantly landscaped. Surrounding the city center are
thousands of acres of suburbs where most residents of Nairobi live. The
University of Nairobi is located in the city center, near the main shopping
and business districts and cultural attractions.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
HISTORY
The University of Nairobi traces its origin under British
rule to the Royal Technical College of East Africa which was established
in 1951 and admitted its first students in 1956. Gaining full autonomy
after independence, the College became the University College of Nairobi
in 1964 and was one of the three constituent colleges of the University
of East Africa. In 1970, the University of East Africa was dissolved
and Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda each established national universities.
The University of Nairobi was inaugurated by President Jomo Kenyatta in
1970.
OVERVIEW
The University of Nairobi is an English language institution
with an enrollment of about 15,000 students in six Colleges: Agriculture
and Veterinary Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, Biological and Physical
Sciences, Education and External Studies, Health Sciences, and Humanities
and Social Sciences.
UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES AND RESOURCES
The University's Main Campus occupies an 18-acre site
near the city center and houses the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
and the College of Architecture and Engineering with about 6,500 students.
The Chiromo Campus is one mile away and houses the Physical Sciences, the
Pre-clinical Medicine and Pre-Veterinary departments. The Clinical
Medicine departments are at Kenyatta National Hospital, about four miles
from the city center. The Veterinary Clinical departments are at Kabete,
ten miles from the main campus, and the College of Education and External
Studies is at Kikuyu, 13 miles from the city center.
The University offers its students a range of resources
and services. The library system consists of the main campus library
and several specialized branches on the other campuses. There are
residence halls for men and women which accommodate hundreds of students.
On the main campus there is a small but well-equipped student health service
(serious illnesses are treated at the University's teaching hospital, Kenyatta
National Hospital). There is a Students' Union which takes considerable
interest in international student affairs and a wide range of sporting
and social activities.
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THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The academic year has two semesters each consisting of
approximately 13 weeks of class followed by exams. Prospective applicants
should check with the Program Coordinator for the most current news about
the spring semester dates for the coming year. The actual start date for
any given semester is often different than that which is published by the
University of Nairobi.
In addition, NEP participants should understand that delays
and interruptions in the academic calendar can occur unexpectedly at the
University of Nairobi, as in other universities in developing countries.
Students must show a degree of flexibility as they may need to stay in
Kenya beyond the published end of semester date to address unforeseen changes
in the calendar.
COURSE LOAD
Participants must maintain a full course load during their
period of study abroad. The standard course load is four classes
at the University of Nairobi per semester or an appropriate combination
of regular courses, private tutorials and independent study.
CURRICULUM
A typical semester includes a group tutorial in Kiswahili
and three University classes. Most students take classes offered
at the Institute of African Studies within the University's College of
Humanities and Social Sciences. A student may opt to substitute independent
study or research for one University class if pre-approved.
Coursework at the University
On-site staff at the University and at the Institute of African
Studies in particular will assist students to choose and register
for classes. Philip Kilbride,
Professor of Anthropology at Bryn Mawr College, is the NEP’s Academic
Advisor and can also be of help.
The Institute of African Studies houses the Anthropology
Department at the University of Nairobi. The Institute teaches and researches
in the fields of Indigenous African Prehistory and History, Ethnography
and Social Anthropology, Linguistics, Musicology and Dance, Traditional
and Modern Literature, Traditional and Modern Arts and Crafts, and Religious
and Other Belief Systems.
Examples of courses offered at the Institute include “Nutritional
Anthropology,” “Medical Anthropology,” “Cultural Anthropology and Development,”
“Gender Roles,” “Primatology,” “Ethnology of African Societies,” “Field
Methods in Anthropology,” “The Family and Kinship,” “Economic Anthropology,”
and “Verbal Art” (oral literature).
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences includes
the following departments: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics,
Geography, Government (including Diplomacy and International Studies),
History, Law, Linguistics and African languages, Literature (including
French), Management Science, Philosophy, Religious studies and Sociology.
Related Institutes and Programs
Students may be interested in other Institutes and departments.
The Institute for Development Studies researches economic and social development
in Kenya. The Population Studies and Research Institute was established
to meet the research needs of Kenya in support of the country's development
strategy.
Kiswahili
Students are required to take Kiswahili while in Kenya.
Instruction is conducted as a small group tutorial with a faculty member.
Independent Research and Study
With permission, students may opt to do independent study
or research. Independent Study will be supervised by University or Museum
faculty in Nairobi and also by a professor/advisor at the student's home
institution. The work must be completed and evaluated by the end
of the semester.
Grades and Transcripts
After completion of all academic work, faculty in Nairobi
will evaluate student work. Each student's home institution will decide
whether the grades will be posted on the student's transcript and if they
will be calculated into the grade point average.
It is important to note that transcripts may be issued
significantly later than the end of the academic program. It is not uncommon
for the University of Nairobi to have delays that affect the academic calendar
and administrative processing. Further, grades will not be released
or posted until all fees related to the study abroad semester have been
paid.
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HOMESTAY PROGRAM
Through a cooperative arrangement with Kalamazoo College,
participants will stay with families while in Nairobi. Past participants
have said that living locally with a family is one of the most rewarding
parts of the study abroad program.
Students are housed individually with Kenyan families.
Most homes will be middle to upper class but their neighborhood locations,
family structure and experiences may vary significantly.
In Kenya, the family unit is more extended than typically
found in the US. Kenyans tend to have close relationships and live
in the same city with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Very
often the home is shared with extended family. Not surprisingly,
a high value is often placed on the family and sustaining these relationships.
Students are reminded that they too may become part of the family and developing
and maintaining an appropriate relationship is important.
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PRACTICAL INFORMATION
NOTES ON HEALTH AND SAFETY
Students should be aware of the risks of living and traveling
abroad. They should take special precautions to reduce the risk of
illness or injury.
Applicants must be in excellent physical condition and
must recognize the very real possibility of falling ill or contracting
long-term diseases such as malaria if they do not observe strict standards
of protective health care and personal and food hygiene. This advice
is not meant to imply that the program is unsafe; rather it is meant to
convey an accurate sense of what a participant may encounter.
Students must have a complete physical check-up and be
up-to-date with their primary childhood vaccinations and boosters.
A variety of other vaccinations are recommended and others are required.
Protection against malaria is essential; different prophylactic tablets
are available and participants must make sure they are thoroughly informed
about the effectiveness and potential side effects of each kind.
Students should also be aware that AIDS is widespread in some areas in
sub-Saharan Africa.
For current health, safety and travel information, students
should consult the U.S. Department of
State for Consular Information Sheets for Kenya and for any other country
in which they plan to travel.
INSURANCE
Students must maintain health insurance coverage that
is valid in the U.S. and which meets the standards set forth by their home
institution. Students should examine their present insurance policy
to determine that they are sufficiently covered while they are overseas.
In addition, participants are required to obtain coverage for medical evacuation
and repatriation.
Students should not assume that their current insurance
will provide adequate coverage internationally. Participants should
obtain an International Student Identity Card, which provides basic supplemental
medical/accident coverage through the issuing agent, CIEE.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
The cost of travel to and from Kenya is not included in
the program fee. Students may want to talk with their study abroad advisors
to discuss institutional policies. The Program Coordinator at Bryn
Mawr can also offer advice and some assistance with travel arrangements
to Kenya.
PASSPORT/VISA
Students must have a passport that will be valid during
the entire period of study abroad and for six months beyond the expiration
of any necessary visas. To avoid any last minute problems, it is recommended
that the application for a new passport, or for passport renewal, be made
as soon as possible. The Program Coordinator can advise a student as to
how to obtain a passport.
A valid passport required in order to apply for the necessary
visas. United States citizens must obtain a visa to study in Kenya and
may require other visas to travel to other countries in the region.
Information about how to obtain the appropriate visa for Kenya will be
also provided to students. Non-U.S. citizens should consult the consular
section of the Embassy of Kenya in Washington D.C., the Kenyan consulate
in Los Angeles, or the Kenyan consulate or high commission in their home
country for information about visa requirements.
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COSTS
The Consortium member schools require that students pay
their regular semester's tuition and housing costs to their home institution.
The Nairobi Exchange Program will then process payments directly with the
student's home institution. The program fee and the homestay program
will be billed to the home institution.
There are additional costs that are not included in the
cost of the Nairobi Exchange Program. Such expenses include: transportation,
personal expenses, textbooks, passport and visa fees, required health insurance
and inoculation/preventative medicine expenses, and personal weekend excursions
and vacation travel. The estimated total of these expenses, excluding travel,
is about $1,500 for the semester. Students should talk with their
study abroad advisors to learn which of these costs might be subsidized
from their home institutions.
FINANCIAL AID
The Nairobi Exchange Program does not offer financial
aid or scholarships. Students should consult with the study abroad
advisor at their home institution about financial aid policies for study
abroad. Bryn Mawr students on financial aid are eligible for grants and
loans as if they were on campus.
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CONTINGENCIES
Prospective students should be aware of the possibility
that the opening of the University in any given semester could be delayed
or that some of the announced courses may not be available. In addition,
the Program may need to make special arrangements for tutorials in lieu
of regularly scheduled classes if the University's academic calendar is
delayed or interrupted. Such is part of the cultural learning experience
of studying in a developing country.
Should conditions at any time deteriorate to a point where
the Consortium considers them to be unsafe, the program will be suspended
until they improve.
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ELIGIBILITY
Students in their junior year who have taken a minimum
of one African Studies related course are best suited to apply. Prior study
of Kiswahili is encouraged, but not required. Other students with appropriate
interests or experiences related to Africa may also be considered. Candidates
should have declared a major and have taken basic courses in their field
prior to enrollment. A GPA of 3.0 will be considered. Applicants
must be in good disciplinary and academic standing.
Applicants are advised that standards and conditions of
living and studying in a developing African country will present challenges.
The selection committee is seeking applicants who present exceptional motivation,
tolerance for the unexpected, emotional maturity, and a willingness to
endure a degree of physical discomfort.
Candidates may qualify for admission on academic criteria
and yet not be selected for participation because, in the eyes of the selection
committee, they represent a risk of not being able to adjust to such a
different and demanding living environment. Such decisions are made
in the interests of both the applicant and the program and are within the
discretionary authority of the selection committee. Any student who
accepts an offer of admission to the program does so voluntarily and recognizes
that there may be risks associated with his or her participation.
DISMISSAL FROM PROGRAM
All admitted students are required to attend program specific
and intercultural orientations. In addition, a student's personal conduct
and willingness to cooperate with NEP staff and fellow participants is
of the utmost importance during the pre-departure period as well as for
the duration of his or her stay in Kenya. The NEP Coordinator, in consultation
with Consortium members, may dismiss a student if there is a disregard
for these expectations or if the student does not maintain good academic
or disciplinary standing.
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HOW TO APPLY
Application forms can be obtained from the Program Coordinator
at Bryn Mawr College. Candidates must complete the Personal Data Form.
In addition students are asked to submit an official transcript, two letters
of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement. A personal
interview is also required.
It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure
that all required documents are submitted before October
15.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Program Coordinator:
Jennifer Russell
Office of Admissions
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Tel: (610) 526-7473
Fax: (610) 526-7471
E-mail: jrussell@brynmawr.edu
Program Academic Advisor:
Dr. Philip Kilbride
Anthropology Department
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Tel: (610) 526-5025
Fax: (610) 526-7476
E-mail: pkilbrid@brynmawr.edu
THE AFRICAN STUDIES CONSORTIUM
Bryn Mawr College-Haverford College- Swarthmore
College-University of Pennsylvania
The Nairobi Exchange Program is one of four programs in
Africa organized by the African Studies Consortium and its member institutions:
• GHANA: University of Ghana
Lead institution: Swarthmore
• KENYA: University of Nairobi
Lead institution: Bryn Mawr
• SENEGAL: Université Gaston Berger, Saint
Louis du Sénégal Lead institution:
University of Pennsylvania
• ZIMBABWE: University of Zimbabwe
Lead institutions: University of Pennsylvania
Nondiscrimination Policy Statement: Bryn Mawr College
values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse
backgrounds. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race,
sexual orientation, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability
or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran in the administration of
its educational policies, programs, or activities, admissions policies,
scholarship and load awards, athletic programs, employment practices, or
any other programs.
Revised 5/03. Changes may be made without notice.
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