This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
COMESA has taken a significant step towards promoting regional integration in the East and Southern Africa region with the launch of a virtual Master of Regional Integration programme at Kenyatta University in Kenya.
The programme, which is designed for government officials and trade practitioners, aims to build the capacity of member states to address the slow progress of regional integration in the COMESA region.
According to Dr. Samuel Muthoga, Chairman of the Department of Applied Economics at Kenyatta University, the programme has been approved by the Commission of University Education in Kenya and will be offered during the first semester of the 2019-2020 academic year.
Dr. Muthoga stated that about 30 students have so far applied for the programme, which will be offered in collaboration with the School of Virtual and Open Learning of Kenyatta University and other 22 universities in COMESA member states.
COMESA has secured Sh6.78 million (EUR 60,000) for annual scholarships for the programme from the European Union through the Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group under the TradeCom II Capacity Building Programme.
Senior Research Fellow at COMESA, Mr. Benedict Musengele, explained that the programme will be offered by coursework and dissertation over a duration of two years and consists of 10 compulsory and five elective courses.
Examinations will be conducted at Kenyatta University campuses, in the Embassies and COMESA Secretariat offices.
The launch of COMESA virtual university was approved in October 2016 during the 19th COMESA Heads of State Summit held in Madagascar, with the objective to inculcate the dimension of regional integration in learning in higher institutions.
COMESA was formed in December 1994 to serve as an organization of free independent sovereign states that have agreed to cooperate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all their people.
