ALA alumnus Joseph Munyambanza (DRC graduates from Westminster College, June 2015)
As the population of young people across the continent continues to grow, so do the opportunities available to them. Over the past six years, African Leadership Academy has sent its talented graduates to 91 different universities globally and they have collectively been awarded over $75 million dollars in financial aid.
Much of the financial aid available is at universes in the United States. African Leadership Academy has more than 20 alumni at the University of Rochester and the University of Notre Dame. Yale University, Trinity College (CT), Duke University and Cornell University all have ten of more ALA alumni in attendance. Additionally, the MasterCard Foundation in conjunction with Arizona State University, University of California at Berkeley, Michigan State University, Stanford University, Duke University and Wellesley College, support some of the highest potential students from sub-Saharan Africa who come from highly disadvantaged backgrounds.
Interested in studying in Europe? Sciences Po in France, IE in Spain, Jacob’s University in Germany and American University in Paris are all recruiting and supportive of African students. In the Middle East, NYU Abu Dhabi has actively recruited Africans from across the continent. If Asia is more interesting to you, you might consider Yale-NUS in Singapore, NYU- Shanghai in China or Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. Interested in environmental science, agriculture and Spanish? The MasterCard Foundation Scholars program at Earth University in Costa Rica could be a great fit for you.
Finally, if like those of us at ALA, you believe Africa is rising and you prefer to stay on the continent. Here are some universities we find very exciting and interesting. Ashesi University in Ghana is modelled after a United States liberal arts college. United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya is a United States accredited university that offers incredible educational value. ALU, the tertiary version of ALA is set to open in 2015 and offers an exciting new tertiary model that is designed to help develop the future leaders of Africa with an innovative learning model and an increased emphasis on internships.
This is just a sampling of the global opportunities available to talented young Africans. If these opportunities interest you, consider applying to ALA where you will have the opportunity to work with our outstanding university counsellors as they guide you through the university search process.
Author: Chris Cheney
About the Author:
Chris Cheney is the former Assistant Dean of Admissions and University Guidance at African Leadership Academy. After spending three years at ALA, Chris has left ALA to develop the Leaf Central European Leadership Academy in Slovakia, a world-class co-educational international boarding high school with a unique focus on leadership and Central Europe.
