ICS TECHNICAL COLLEGE INTRODUCES FREE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE COURSE

By Emmanuel Kipkoech.

ICS Technical College has launched a free Russian language training programme to help students access international education and job opportunities. The programme is being offered in partnership with the Path to Russia Foundation and Moscow Polytechnic University.

The three-month pilot course will be conducted online every Wednesday and Friday by instructors from Moscow Polytechnic University. Students who complete the training will receive certificates from the university.

Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, ICS Technical College Registrar Reinhard Amunga said learning foreign languages is becoming important in today's global job market.

"Our students need exposure to global opportunities, and foreign languages are becoming an important component of employability and career advancement," said Amunga.

Path to Russia Foundation Regional Coordinator Erick Ochieng' said the programme will help Kenyan students access scholarships, higher education and employment opportunities in Russia.

"The Russian language is not widely taught in Kenya, yet it offers access to higher education, scholarships and employment opportunities. Through this programme, we are creating pathways for Kenyan students," he said.

According to the organisers, students who perform well may qualify for partial or fully funded scholarships to continue their studies in Russia. The Foundation is also planning a nine-month programme for Information Technology students in partnership with Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics.

Research shows that learning a second language improves communication skills, problem-solving abilities and cultural understanding. It also increases graduates' competitiveness in the global labour market.

The college said the pilot programme is free, while discussions are underway with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) to register and accredit the course. The first class will admit up to 40 students.