Michelle Wambui Mwangi

St Cross-Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Joining us from: Kenya

MSc Comparative and International Education (2025)

I am a Kenyan scholar with a background in International Relations who has been lecturing in the field since 2021. Since that time, I have become passionate about giving my students the best opportunities to achieve whatever they consider to be world class in the trajectories of their lives and careers. Studying comparative and international education at the University of Oxford is enabling me to do that by challenging me to learn and contribute only the best to my field so that I can equally equip the dear lives that I get to engage with every new semester.

My research interest is therefore geared towards finding the best solutions to address the challenges of education in Kenya and Africa. There is an ongoing discourse around the decolonisation of education practices to reveal the contributions of indigenous communities and I am keen to test the effectiveness of these proposed strategies in solving the real, practical day to day challenges of the education system back home.

The St Cross Mastercard Foundation Scholarship (part of  AfOx - the Africa Oxford Initiative) has meant that I get to do this without anxious concern for my daily and learning needs while in Oxford, and I am deeply grateful to the donors who make this opportunity possible. It means to me that dreams are attainable and possible for my students as well. The St. Cross community is equally such a warm and lovely place that allows me to grow and interact with such brilliant people whose excellence in their own fields inspires me to stay on course and see my goals through.

Outside of my studies I enjoy writing poetry and making crochet items. They help me keep in touch with my creative side and appreciate the people and nature around me.

I would also like to give a special mention to the AfOx community who have made me feel so at home despite being so far away from familiarity. The care that the team takes to give us scholars a chance to keep in touch with each other and gain access to dedicated spaces has made all the difference during my time here. I am especially looking forward to my Ubuntu service after my studies which I think is the most brilliant aspect of this scholarship as it allows me to start practicing in my field without the uncertainty of trying to find fulfilling work in our challenging economic times.