'I'm grateful': UCC student first to graduate under scholarship which supports refugees

Engineer Kanku Biselele has just completed a postgraduate diploma in sustainable energy

Kanku Biselele fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his brother, travelling on foot before reaching their first point of safety. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

A civil engineer who moved to Ireland from a war-torn country has become the first student to graduate from UCC under a scholarship which supports refugees.

Kanku Biselele fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his brother, travelling on foot before reaching safety.

After receiving refugee status in Uganda, Kanku and his brother had no income and were staying at a friend’s house after sleeping on the floor of the refugee centre where they had initially arrived.

Kanku had a bachelor’s degree, had graduated, and was looking to pursue further education.

“The internet was a lifeline for me,” Kanku told the Irish Examiner.

He researched and applied to hundreds of scholarship opportunities across the world, hoping to hear back from one of them.

Kanku wanted the chance to leave Uganda and pursue a degree that would eventually give him security, a home and further opportunities.

He applied to the EU Passworld Scholarship, which offers refugees in Uganda the opportunity to study for a master’s degree in Ireland.

The scheme provides five students with a full fee waiver, on-campus accommodation, and a stipend for the year, which is provided by community support.

It targets areas of skill shortages in Ireland, and universities are free to select students in disciplines with a high demand for employers.

The programme also allows refugee scholars to go directly from graduation to meaningful employment and contribute to the Irish economy.

For Kanku, his life changed when he received the call saying he was accepted as part of the EU Passworld Scholarship, and he would be able to attend UCC.

“I was putting it out there,” Kanku said, “You feel you had a chance, but then you get rejections, and you lose hope.” 

It took four months before Kanku heard back and was invited to start in the 2024 academic year.

He recalled the exact date he heard from the coordinator of the project, Ruth Hally, for an interview.

“That feeling was overwhelming. I don’t think I’ve ever responded to anything so fast,” he said.

“I had no time to waste, and I said, ‘Yes, I will be there’.

“Because what am I really doing? I’m unemployed, and nothing is going on in my life. I have to be there.” 

Kanku said it was “overwhelming” and “daunting” to go through an interview when he had never even used Microsoft Teams before, but Ms Hally made him “feel special”.

“And the rest is history,” he said.

Now, Kanku is the first student to graduate under the Education Pathways Ireland programme with a postgraduate diploma in sustainable energy.

The student said he was incredibly grateful for the support he received from both UCC and Fáilte Cork.

While carrying out his studies, Kanku worked in McDonald’s and has since moved into a job within the construction industry. He now hopes to move into sustainable energy work.

“It was full support from day one, all the way to graduation. I was supported with accommodation and a stipend.

“Some might call it a bare minimum, but it was more than I could ever imagine because I never had access to such resources until I got here.

“Everything had been difficult for me nearly all my life up until I got here, so I'm grateful. The scholarship is a unique one, and I try my best to honour it through my academic work, to graduate and to look forward,” he said.