Mentor Professional Benson Kirathe about his exchange at VUB
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Benson Kirathe obtained his degree in fisheries at the Moi University of Kenya in 2004. Almost immediately after graduating, he became a fisheries officer. He specialised in the monitoring of fish resources and ensured every day that the quality of the fish was maintained. In 2011, Benson wanted to broaden his horizons and gain new experiences. He decided to go on an exchange to VUB, where he studied biology and obtained a master’s degree in 2013. Today, Benson is chief fisheries officer at the Lamu County Government in Kenya. He’s responsible for conceptualising and implementing new fisheries projects in the region.
“I would recommend that all students go on an exchange. You meet new people and develop new ways of thinking. Thanks to my experience abroad, I discovered effective new ways of managing issues. The ability to switch between different approaches has proved to be useful in my current job on several occasions. Having an open mind can help you both socially and professionally.”
A multicultural melting pot
VUB’s multicultural nature was the main draw that encouraged Benson to travel to Brussels. The fact that the university is located in the centre of the European capital and is home to countless nationalities reinforced his decision. Benson wanted to actively participate in such a diverse society and hoped to broaden his network internationally by meeting people from all over the world.
“I’m an ambitious person who’s always looking for new opportunities to continue developing myself. I was convinced that VUB would perfectly meet my expectations to get to know people from different cultures and gain new insights. On top of that, I associate the university with ground-breaking research that significantly improves human well-being. I really wanted to contribute my share to this research and was therefore very eager to leave for Brussels.”
Beyond his expectations
Benson looks back very positively on his time at VUB, and if he ever has the chance he would love to come back. Above all, he was surprised by the Belgian culture. He received a warm welcome from his host family and felt he could always count on his fellow students and professors. Besides the friendships he forged, he also gained a lot of practical knowledge during his time as a VUB student. He developed a critical mind, and the biology course turned out to be good preparation for his further professional life.
“Since day one I felt welcome in Belgium. It’s not easy to start a life in an unknown country and culture, but everyone was willing to help me at all times. Thanks to that, I quickly felt at home. I’m still in touch with some people I met during my exchange and I’m so grateful for that. My studies at VUB were also very useful for my professional life. I learned to view things in a holistic way and learned how to manage some specific geographical issues. The studies also helped me understand how the ecosystem is balanced, which is crucial knowledge for the job I’m doing today.”
Chief fisheries officer
Today, Benson is chief fisheries officer at the Lamu County Government in Kenya. He grew up in a peasant family and working in the fishing industry never crossed his mind. However, when he was obliged to follow some courses about fisheries at university, he developed an interest in the sector. Over the years, Benson has gained a lot of experience in fisheries and experienced a real evolution.
“I accidentally ended up in the fishing industry thanks to some incorrectly assigned courses at university. Although I didn’t know anything about the sector, I quickly developed an enormous interest and passion for it. I started as a fish quality assurance officer and was mainly responsible for monitoring and controlling fish resources. Today, my job includes the monitoring and evaluation of World Bank funded fisheries projects based in Kenya. Although my job can be challenging sometimes, I feel like I am on the right way to realising my professional dreams.”
Benson’s tips & tricks
For students: Study a lot, but don’t be too hard on yourself and give yourself a break from time to time. You should also start to broaden your network socially and professionally, even as a student. Knowing the right people can be a big advantage once you start working.
For final year students: Don’t be disappointed or angry if the beginning of your professional career doesn’t live up to your dreams. At the end, you will not be judged by how you started your career but by how you ended it. It can also be helpful to look for a mentor, someone to guide you through your career and keep you focused on your goals.
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