NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will host the country’s first-ever National Career Conference and Exhibition in January 2026, a move aimed at helping students make informed decisions before applying for university and college placement.
The three-day event will run from January 27 to 29, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) and will bring together students, parents, universities, TVET institutions, professional bodies and private sector players.
Attendance will be free, with participants required to register online.
KUCCPS said the conference comes at a crucial moment, just weeks before the annual placement application cycle, which typically opens in late March or early April, with revisions conducted in May and June.
The forum is expected to provide learners with timely career guidance and programme information, enabling them to make well-informed choices before submitting applications through the KUCCPS placement system.
Held under the theme “Informed Career Choices: A Skilled and Competitive Workforce,” the conference will focus on linking education pathways with labour market needs, while offering clarity on emerging careers and skills demand.
“In essence, the conference transitions KUCCPS from a placement agency to a proactive career partner, ensuring that every Kenyan student has a clear, actionable roadmap for their professional journey,” the agency said.
More than 100 institutions are expected to participate, including public and private universities, TVET colleges, professional bodies and industry partners.
Learners will have the opportunity to interact directly with institutional representatives, industry mentors and policymakers to explore academic programmes alongside career prospects.
Parents and guardians will also be engaged, with KUCCPS noting that the conference will help families better understand the evolving higher education landscape and emerging training opportunities.
In a major boost for hospitality and tourism training, KUCCPS announced a new collaboration with Kenya Utalii College, which will allow students to apply to the institution through the KUCCPS system.
KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wahome said the partnership is set to be formally launched before the start of the 2026 placement application cycle.
She said the move aligns with efforts to expand access to specialised training while promoting transparency and equity in admissions.
The KUCCPS placement system centralises applications to promote fairness and merit, matching qualified learners to programmes based on performance, preferences and available capacity, while enabling institutions to attract students from across the country.
Beyond exhibitions, the conference will feature expert-led career guidance sessions, discussions on emerging job market trends, and on-site KUCCPS clinics to assist students with placement-related inquiries.
Government officials and education stakeholders are also expected to hold discussions on aligning education and training with national development priorities.
KUCCPS expressed confidence that the inaugural conference will become a key annual platform for supporting students as they navigate decisions that shape their academic and professional futures.
