Australian Education Consultants has helped over 10,000 students pursue their education overseas in Australia since its inception.

Hosted at the Australian High Commissioner’s residence in Nairobi at the start of March, over 150 guests attended the event, including Australian university and college representatives and alumni.

“It hits home when we get children of students that we guided 20 years ago now coming to us, wanting to go and study in Australia”

“20 years is a long time,” Mahul Shah, director of AEC told The PIE News.

“It hits home when we get children of students that we guided 20 years ago now coming to us, wanting to go and study in Australia. AEC is now generational.”

In its first year of operation in 1997, the consultancy sent 24 students to Australia, and has now expanded to send upwards of 500 students a year.

Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne remain its most popular destinations in Australia for Kenyans.

Business and IT diplomas were the most popular among prospective students in the early days of the consultancy company, Shah said.

But now a wider variety of subjects including nursing, health sciences, arts and accounting are among the most popular choices.

“Kenyans are very enterprising,” he said, adding that Kenyan students are eager to study subjects that reflect great employability and demand in both Australia and Kenya.

“Some are looking for graduate opportunities in Australia, and others are keen to get back to Kenya, to become part of the booming economy.

“We are seeing many Kenyans who are now Australians coming to Kenya with their expertise and skills, and getting involved in emerging areas such as mining, oil, gas, and food security.”