UoN Students Set to Pursue Graduate Studies at Copenhagen Business School under Kenya–Denmark Partnership

Five University of Nairobi students are set to leave for Denmark to pursue postgraduate studies at the prestigious Copenhagen Business School (CBS), marking a new chapter in the growing academic, economic and people-to-people partnership between Kenya and Denmark.

The students are part of the inaugural cohort of the Africa, Business and Society (ABS) Programme, a five-year partnership running from 2026 to 2030 and supported through Denmark’s Knowledge and Innovation Programme (KIP). The programme brings together the University of Nairobi, University of Ghana Business School, University of Johannesburg and Copenhagen Business School.

Speaking during a send-off event at the Dannish Embassy on  Tuesday, 11th August, 2026, the Ambassador of Denmark to Kenya, H.E. Stephan Schønemann, said the partnership between Kenya and Denmark continued to grow, with strong cooperation in education, business, trade, innovation and, development.

The Ambassador congratulated the students for securing the highly competitive opportunity and urged them to see their studies as more than an academic journey.

“You are going as representatives of Kenya and the continent. You have an opportunity to rewrite the Africa narrative. Do not assume. Ask questions, engage and learn from each other,” he told the students.

He noted that education and student mobility were important in strengthening the relationship between the two countries, particularly by creating opportunities for young people to interact, exchange ideas and build lasting professional networks.

The Ambassador further observed that Kenya and Denmark had a long history of student and academic exchanges and expressed optimism that the new cohort would contribute to strengthening the bridge between the two countries.

The importance of young people in shaping future economic and social relationships was a recurring theme during the event.

The students were encouraged to embrace their time in Denmark as an opportunity to build knowledge, professional networks and new perspectives on business and development.

The Ambassador described Copenhagen Business School as an institution operating at an elite global standard and challenged the students to rise to the demands of the programme.

“It is a tough school and the demands are high, but go ahead and do your part,” he told the students.

He also encouraged them to take advantage of Denmark’s social and cultural environment, including opportunities to interact with Danish students and communities.

The students, he said, would serve as important “brand ambassadors” for Kenya and Africa while in Denmark, helping to strengthen people-to-people relations between the two regions.

Representing the University of Nairobi, Director, Institute of Development Studies,  Prof. Paul Kamau, highlighted the University's long-standing relationship with Danish universities and the important role Denmark has played as a development and academic partner.

He noted that the partnership had supported various forms of capacity building, including training in Denmark, doctoral education, joint supervision, double-degree arrangements and Masters-level training.

The collaboration has also supported research and academic exchange in areas such as pastoralism and land ownership, while creating opportunities for Kenyan scholars to engage with Danish institutions.

He said the current programme represented another important milestone in the relationship and would further expand opportunities for students and academic staff.

The Institute for Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Nairobi is the host partner for the programme. The Institute has been central to coordinating the University's participation in the ABS partnership.

The Africa, Business and Society Programme seeks to strengthen the capacity of students and lecturers to become critical thinkers, ethical entrepreneurs and responsible leaders who can respond to global challenges including technological change, climate pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and inequality.

The wider ABS project is supported by DKK 35.9 million from Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Knowledge and Innovation Programme. It covers student scholarships, curriculum development, joint teaching, research and student and faculty mobility.