Nursing Students Share Aspirations, Experiences from Erasmus+ Exchange Programme
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is hosting two nursing students, Anna Oberleitner and Marie Luise Luft, from the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions in Upper Austria for a two-month student exchange up to November 2026. Similarly, JKUAT nursing students Bernadette Kagari and Andrew Wekesa arrived in Austria on September 15, 2026,…
Project lead Dr. Albanus Mutisya (right) together with Marlene Eder, Head of Internationalization at the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions in Upper Austria.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is hosting two nursing students, Anna Oberleitner and Marie Luise Luft, from the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions in Upper Austria for a two-month student exchange up to November 2026. Similarly, JKUAT nursing students Bernadette Kagari and Andrew Wekesa arrived in Austria on September 15, 2026, where they are expected to gain further exposure to a different healthcare and learning environment while strengthening their academic and clinical competencies.
The exchanges are part of an international partnership between JKUAT’s School of Nursing and the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions in Austria, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus+ KA171 staff and student mobility initiative.
The three-year programme, which began in 2024, is spearheaded by Dr. Albanus Mutisya, from the School of Nursing. According to Dr. Mutisya, the programme was established to strengthen academic collaboration, promote international learning and build lasting partnerships in health sciences education between the two institutions.
During their stay in Kenya, Anna and Marie will have an opportunity to experience the country’s nursing education and healthcare system through placements at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and Juja Level 4 Hospital in Gachororo, while also engaging with their counterparts at JKUAT. The two students are eager to gain practical experience, broaden their nursing skills and gain insight into Kenya’s healthcare system.
“We would like to learn a few basic healthcare-related phrases in Swahili to communicate more effectively with our patients, while also learning more about Kenyan culture in general. Overall, we are looking forward to the following nine weeks and are very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this student exchange programme,” they said in an interview.
Welcoming the students, the Dean School of Nursing Prof Sherry Oluchina wished them an exciting experience in Kenya.
Elizabeth Mutheu, one of the beneficiaries of the exchange programme
These visits follow an earlier exchange that saw two JKUAT nursing students, Elizabeth Mutheu and Justice Kipngeno, travel to Austria between September and November 2025. During their placement, the two were attached to Kepler University Hospital, one of Austria’s leading teaching hospitals.
For Elizabeth and Justice, the experience extended beyond acquiring clinical skills. Working alongside Austrian nurses and doctors exposed them to a different healthcare environment and deepened their understanding of nursing as a global profession. By the end of their placement, both had gained not only new technical skills but also greater confidence and adaptability, qualities developed through navigating an unfamiliar clinical environment.
Elizabeth’s placement at the Dermatology Unit of Kepler University Hospital offered her an opportunity to gain first-hand exposure to dermatological practice within a well-structured European teaching hospital. The experience, she says, was both educational and insightful.
“From the beginning, the team was welcoming and encouraged active learning. I was able to observe and assist in patient consultations, provocation studies, discuss cases, and follow the diagnostic process for a wide range of skin conditions, including inflammatory diseases, infections and skin cancers. Overall, my time at the dermatology unit strengthened my clinical skills and deepened my interest in dermatology,” said Elizabeth.
Justice Kipngeno was also appreciative of the experience in Austria
Meanwhile, Justice’s experience in the Trauma and Orthopedics Department gave him practical exposure to a range of nursing procedures, including preparation of intravenous infusions, administration of medications, wound care, patient monitoring and documentation of patient data using electronic health record systems.
“The exchange enhanced my learning experience. The unit emphasized teamwork, adherence to clinical protocols, patient safety, and evidence-based nursing practice. The nursing staff were very supportive and provided guidance throughout my stay, helping me improve my clinical skills and understanding of trauma and orthopedic nursing care,” said Justice.
The learning extended beyond the clinical setting. Both students describe the exchange as an opportunity to experience Austrian culture, interact with people from different backgrounds and gain a broader understanding of life beyond Kenya.
“We interacted with amazing people from Austria, learned about their traditions, values, and way of life, and explored cultural differences that broadened our global perspective. Visits to historical sites, museums, and social events helped us appreciate Austria’s culture and heritage, while also reflecting on our own Kenyan identity.”
Such experiences, they say, strengthened their appreciation of cultural diversity and fostered mutual respect, open-mindedness and cross-cultural communication, qualities increasingly important for nurses working in a globalized profession.
From L-R: Dr. Albanus Mutisya, Anna Oberleitner and Marie Luise Luft from University of Applied Sciences For Health Professions in Upper Austria, and their buddy guide, Brenda Birgen from JKUAT.