Tanzania
This is an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility project of Leiden University’s Faculty of Medicine with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Tanzania.
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Project duration:
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"It has been a wonderful experience and very memorable to me. I’m forever grateful."
Paulina Mloka, student at KCMC
"I greatly value the time I spent at LUMC."
Furaha Kasyupa, student at KCMC
Two perspectives, one goal: Examining the immune system in a PhD collaboration
The joint PhD project of Marloes van Dorst and Jeremia Pyuza brought together two researchers with different backgrounds, training, and approaches to doing science. Jeremia’s PhD trajectory was supported by LUMC Global and Erasmus+ ICM.
What happens when a Dutch scientist and a Tanzanian physician join forces? Supervisor Maria Yazdanbakhsh recognized early on that combining these perspectives could strengthen a shared research project. In reflecting on their collaboration, Marloes and Jeremia describe how much they learned about each other’s cultures, their own disciplines, and themselves.
Read more about Marloes's and Jeremia's experiences
Interview with candidate Paulina Mloka
Paulina Mloka received an Erasmus+ ICM grant for her half-minor in Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy at the LUMC. In this interview she talks about her time in Leiden in Fall 2025: "It was a deeply enriching experience."
Read more about Paulina's experience
Who are you and where are you from?
"My name is Paulina H. Mloka, a 31-year-old medical doctor from Tanzania. I am currently a third-year resident in Paediatrics and Child Health, with a strong academic and clinical interest in neonatal and pediatric subspecialties."
At which faculty and on which topic have you been working during your time in Leiden?
"During my time in Leiden, I was affiliated with the Faculty of Pathology and Immunotherapy at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). I undertook a half-minor in Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy, where I was exposed to both theoretical and translational aspects of cancer research and immune-based therapies."
Could you mention something that strikes you as a major difference between Leiden and your home country? What has been surprising for you?
"One of the most striking differences between Leiden and Tanzania is the level of advancement in healthcare and biomedical research. Leiden offers access to cutting-edge technology, numerous ongoing clinical trials, and significantly higher survival and cure rates for conditions that are often incurable in my home setting. I was particularly impressed by the high level of patient awareness and understanding of their diseases, as well as their active involvement in decision-making regarding treatment options and outcomes."
What was it like for you to study at Leiden University? What did you gain from it?
"Studying at Leiden University, particularly at LUMC, was a deeply enriching experience. I greatly appreciated the academic rigor and emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving. One highlight was being challenged to design an original research protocol - one that had not previously been registered on platforms such as clinicaltrials.gov. This approach strengthened my analytical skills, research creativity, and confidence in independent scientific inquiry."
Would you recommend the Erasmus+ ICM programme to others?
"Yes, without hesitation. I would highly recommend the Erasmus+ programme to my colleagues and other young professionals. It offers exceptional academic exposure, cultural exchange, and personal growth, all within a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment."
What are your future plans?
"I plan to further advance my career through a fellowship or PhD in Neonatology. I am particularly interested in continuing my academic journey in the Netherlands, especially at LUMC, which I found to be an institution rich in knowledge, innovation, and warmth. My long-term goal is to apply the expertise and skills gained to improve healthcare practices both in the Netherlands and in Tanzania, contributing meaningfully to global child health."
My experience as an international student at the Leiden University Medical Center
Furaha Kasyupa, student at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Tanzania, visited Leiden in Fall 2025. She successfully completed a half minor on Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy: "We had the opportunity to review groundbreaking and impactful research."
Read more about Furaha's experience
"My time at LUMC has been truly rewarding since the day I arrived. My fellow international students from Tanzania and I received a warm welcome and extensive support from the International Office, our course coordinator, course facilitators, as well as our fellow students. The course content, schedules, and learning activities were clearly structured and provided to us immediately after enrollment.
The learning materials were well-organized and written in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. We completed several assignments that stimulated our critical thinking and creativity. Overall, the Half Minor on Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy was eye-opening. Throughout the course, I was introduced to novel and advanced cancer treatment strategies based on immunomodulation. These approaches align closely with precision medicine by offering more individualized therapies with fewer side effects, reduced complications, and improved survival for cancer patients.
We had the opportunity to review groundbreaking and impactful research conducted at LUMC. Additionally, the two clinical visits and patient demonstrations greatly enhanced our understanding of translational research in cancer immunotherapy.
The Erasmus+ ICM grant was essential in supporting our stay in the Netherlands, where the cost of living is relatively high. With this support, we were able to live comfortably.
Despite the overwhelmingly positive experience, we did face a few challenges, particularly when interacting with non-staff members and patients, as Dutch is the primary language of communication. Nevertheless, everything else was excellent, and I greatly value the time I spent at LUMC."
Working equally with international partners: Local solutions for global problems
Project coordinator Tienke Vermeiden already visited Tanzania twice for this Erasmus+ ICM project, in November 2024 and in July 2025. Realizing equality in international cooperation is one of the main challenges in her work: "Our version of the truth is just one perspective."
The LUMC collaborates with partners around the world to share knowledge and improve healthcare. But equal collaboration is not something that happens automatically. Power and funding are often concentrated in the West, while local partners possess indispensable knowledge. How do you make sure one side doesn’t dominate the other?