Why to Expect the increasing Number of Foreign Students Coming to “Study in Rwanda”

Changing mentalities towards the education sector in Rwanda with regard to the pursuit of quality education in other countries or inside Rwanda, these are some of the anticipated challenges to be tackled by “Study in Rwanda program”, which is an official National guide to high education in Rwanda.

“Study in Rwanda program” is the latest strategy to encourage foreign students to study in Rwanda while at the same time convinces Rwandans on the standard quality of education offered within their country.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, Gakwandi Claude who is the Chairman at Study in Rwanda Program announced that through Study in Rwanda, Program partners want to increase the number of international students wishing to enjoy the local curriculum to come and start enrolling in Rwandan based Higher Learning Institutions believed to be on the standard level and recognized internationally.

“We have done research about Study in Rwanda and we found that some local institutions will need to have diversity culture because some countries are really desiring to apply in some of the largest universities in Rwanda …so this time we are looking how we can work together to promote international education services here in Rwanda and see how we can advance this service together,” Gakwandi told the Media and various principles from Higher Learning Institutions in Rwanda.

However, media reporters in Kigali questioned the quality of Education offered in Rwanda with reference to World Universities Ranking where Rwanda has been ranked low and that may hinder the number of those desiring to enroll in Rwanda.

To respond such questions, Professors and other representatives from Higher learning institutions showed that being poorly ranked doesn’t mean that Rwanda is not qualified to provide international services in Education.

For Prof. Tombola Gustave Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic affairs, Research and publication at University of Tourism Technology and Business studies (UTB) with also PhD in Corporate governance, “The quality of Education is progressive. We have seen many Rwandans discovering or bringing new innovations, they have studied in Rwanda and here  we have qualified professors who are working to standardize Rwanda’s Education.”

“There is also the Good Governance of Rwanda which is also an umbrella of the conducive environment. When you look at how the Government of Rwanda headed by H.E Paul Kagame in terms of Good Governance, Rwanda has the laws which facilitate the investors to come and invest in education,

“Those from outside of the country can come and invest in Rwanda’s Education,” Prof. Tombola added.

With the current development in the education Sector and current trend in digital communications, Rwanda has seen a number of the world’s renowned Higher Learning institutions investing in the Country’s education sector.

For instance Carnegie Mellon University Africa’s chapter has opened branch in Rwanda, University of Global Health Equity; Kepler programs offered in Rwanda, some East African Universities like Mount Kenya University, University of Rwanda, and University of Kigali among many others have already established their branches.

For Osumba Ivy Stephanie, Communications Associates at Vatel which is an International Hotel Management School based in Kigali, Rwanda added also that Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) taking place in Rwanda also will be a boost for foreign Students who want to study in Rwanda

“One of the things that have been taking place in Rwanda is that the tourism has been growing exponentially at the same time MICE is such a big deal in Rwanda. We see that between 2016 and 2019 Rwanda has been able to host over 200 International Conferences and so we see with such a booming MICE Industry, this attracts international investors to Rwanda.

“Rwanda is becoming more and more a magnate in East Africa and in Africa itself and I think what foreign students start doing is the exposure,” Osumba added.

“Originally we have been used to Rwandan students going to study in foreign countries, this time is our turn for foreign students also to come to Study in Rwanda,” reads a part of the News statement on Study in Rwanda Program.