Dr. Teresa Atieno Otieno, a Senior Lecturer of French at TU-K has just completed a pioneering project with the Institute of Paris that will see students pursuing Information Sciences and related courses secure paid internship opportunities at Alliance Française’s Multimedia Library in Nairobi. The Institute of Paris is housed in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris, France.

Dr. Otieno presented here project:‘Training future Kenyan librarians, archivists and documentalists in French and was declared winner of DDIFOS (Diplôme de Didactique du Français sur Objectifs Spécifiques) 2024.

The project that was sponsored by the French Embassy in Kenya and Somalia aims to train Information Science students to do their Industrial Based Learning (IBL) in a French environment. This further helps them secure professional networking opportunities and career paths in various fields of specialisation. “This initiative not only enriches the students’ educational experience but also fosters stronger ties between Kenya and French-speaking communities, positioning our students to thrive in a globalised workforce,” Dr. Otieno explained adding that the project represents a significant achievement, as it marks the first endeavour of its kind to bridge the gap between language learning and information science in a French context.

Five students from TU-K have already been placed at Alliance Française and the programme is set to expand further to other French institutions, such as the French School in Nairobi and various French companies operating in Kenya.

“In addition, the students are offered free French classes and free French universal proficiency exams known as DELF,” Dr. Otieno explained. By integrating language proficiency with practical skills, this project not only enhances the students’ academic journey but also prepares them for professional opportunities in Francophone contexts.