Nairobi, Kenya – 11 October 2024 – Amref International University (AMIU), Amref Health Africa’s Primary Healthcare University, is proud to announce its ranking as the third-best university in Kenya in the Times Higher Education – World University Rankings 2025, released on 9th October 2024.
This accomplishment underscores AMIU’s commitment to academic excellence, its expanding global connections, and the vast opportunities it provides for its graduates. It is a direct reflection of the dedication, hard work, and passion of our students, faculty, the AMIU community and the support of its sponsor, Amref Health Africa. With a diverse international student body from 26 countries (Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India , Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda , Zambia and Zimbabwe), a deliberate gender bias to women and girls reflecting the gender mix in the health workforce, and an outstanding teaching environment, AMIU continues to lead the way in primary healthcare training.
The recognition comes at a crucial time for Africa, as the continent faces significant healthcare challenges, including a severe shortage of health workers. With more than 600 million people lacking access to health services they need in Africa, inequity in health services remains a pressing issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa has a healthcare worker density of 1.55 per 1,000 people, well below the WHO’s threshold of 4.45 health workers per 1,000 people needed to achieve universal health coverage.
This challenging environment highlights the vital role of AMIU and its sponsor, Amref Health Africa. “While training has always been integral to Amref’s mission, AMIU was established as an applied health sciences university to develop a health workforce equipped to drive equitable access to primary healthcare across Africa. With our focus on training, research, and innovation in health sciences, we are proud to be contributing to bridging the critical gap in the continent’s health workforce,” said Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa. “It’s a moment of pride for us to see the university standing tall, just a few years after its founding in 2017. Congratulations to our students, parents, University Council, and our dedicated teaching and non-teaching staff.”
The ranking also reflects AMIU’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3—ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. This focus extends to Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), which are essential drivers of health and key pillars of Amref’s corporate strategy.
Partnership for Impact
“This recognition is a testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of our partnerships,” said Prof. Joachim Osur, Vice Chancellor of AMIU. “Our success is built on the foundation of joint research projects, impactful publications, and outreach programs with our valued partners. We are grateful for their unwavering support, which has played a significant role in boosting AMIU’s global visibility and impact.”
AMIU currently has a population of 1045 undertaking undergraduate courses, 480 undertaking Masters programs and 1379 pursuing Diplomas and certificates all in primary healthcare with an annual growth of 39%
To accommodate this rapid growth, AMIU is preparing to move to its new Nairobi Northlands campus in March 2025, remaining steadfast in the mission to address the continent’s healthcare challenges by training the next generation of health professionals. Together with our partners, we are committed to improving health outcomes across Africa and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare.
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Notes to Editors
About Amref International University
Founded in 2017, Amref International University (AMIU) is a premier Pan-African university dedicated to advancing health sciences education. A proud creation of Amref Health Africa, AMIU draws on over 60 years of expertise in innovative public and community health interventions across more than 30 African countries. The university focuses on training, research, and health sciences extension, with an emphasis on promotive, preventive, rehabilitative, and palliative health. AMIU offers a range of postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma, certificate, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, equipping future health professionals with the skills to meet Africa’s evolving health needs.
For more information, visit www.amref.ac.ke.
Media Contacts
Amref International University
betty.buyuka@amref.ac.ke
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