Tharaka University is seeking to expand its global partnerships and create more opportunities for staff and students following its participation in a three-day SHINE Transnational Workshop in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 7th to 9th October 2026.
The workshop, held at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), brought together partners from East Africa and Europe under the Strategic Approach to Higher Education Internationalisation for Nations in East Africa (SHINE) project. Discussions focused on developing a staff training programme to help universities build effective partnerships, improve academic cooperation and integrate global perspectives into teaching and research.
Tharaka University was represented by Prof. Veronica Nyaga, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Research and Student Affairs, Dr. Collins Sitienei, Director of Partnerships and Internationalisation; and Ms. Maureen Ndagara, Director of Career Services and TUN SHINE Project Manager.
A key focus of the workshop was reviewing and refining the SHINE staff training curriculum. Partners examined the curriculum validation results, agreed on revisions to the training modules and worked towards finalising the programme’s structure and content.
They also discussed performance indicators, learning resources and the responsibilities of partners in preparing the training materials. The programme aims to equip university staff with practical skills to manage partnerships and coordinate cross-border academic activities.
The knowledge gained from the workshop is expected to help Tharaka University improve its partnership strategies, support joint research and strengthen cooperation with universities in Europe and East Africa.
Staff and students could also benefit from academic exchanges, virtual learning and intercultural engagement. These opportunities will support the University’s goal of providing globally relevant education while raising the profile of its academic programmes.
The delegation noted that participation in SHINE reflects the University’s commitment to building meaningful partnerships and bringing global perspectives into teaching, research and university management.
SHINE, Project No. 101237146, is an Erasmus+ project funded by the European Union. It seeks to strengthen East African universities through staff training, institutional cooperation and knowledge exchange with European partners.
