{"id":2000130844,"date":"2026-10-30T10:39:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T08:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000130844"},"modified":"2026-10-30T11:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:00:09","slug":"rwanda-uk-commit-to-expanding-higher-education-partnerships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwanda-uk-commit-to-expanding-higher-education-partnerships\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda, UK commit to expanding higher education partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The commitment was reaffirmed at the UK Education Alumni Reception in Kigali on October 29, 2026, which brought together Rwandans who have studied in the UK, government representatives, university leaders and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK High Commissioner to Rwanda Alison Thorpe said the two countries already had at least 63 active partnerships between their educational institutions, covering sectors including health, energy, climate, technology, law and the creative industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She called for stronger collaboration that would enable universities in both countries to conduct research, develop innovations and build closer links with businesses and employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want stronger university partnerships. I want more shared research and innovation addressing real-world problems, and partnerships that are genuinely reciprocal, built around the priorities and expertise of both Rwanda and the UK,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thorpe said UK universities could play a role in supporting Rwanda\u2019s development ambitions, including those outlined in the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), but stressed the importance of involving alumni in identifying relevant opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause the strongest partnership between Rwanda and the UK won’t be built by governments. It’ll be built by people,\u201d she said, urging alumni to share ideas, reconnect with former universities and help establish new partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the Minister of Education, the Director General of the Higher Education Council, Dr. Edward Kadozi, also reaffirmed the country\u2019s commitment to expanding cooperation with the UK in higher education, research and skills development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c We reaffirm the Government of Rwanda’s commitment to working closely with the United Kingdom to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in higher education, research and skills development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kadozi said approximately 400 Rwandan students had studied at UK universities over the past 10 years through Government of Rwanda funding and Commonwealth scholarships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese graduates represent an important human capital resource for Rwanda and serve as a lasting connection between our two countries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Dr. Kadozi noted, the contribution aligns with Rwanda\u2019s national development priorities, as outlined in Vision 2050 and the Second National Strategy for Transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also supports the Education Sector Strategic Plan 2024\u20132029 and the Higher Education Strategic Plan 2025\u20132030, which prioritise human capital development to drive innovation, productivity and the development of a skilled workforce for a knowledge-based economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kadozi encouraged the alumni to use their education and international experience to support innovation, institutional transformation and national development, while mentoring younger professionals to access similar opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those who have benefited from UK education opportunities is Stella Bonard Ibango, a Commonwealth Scholarship alumnus who graduated from the University of York in 2020 with a Master of Science in International Humanitarian Affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibango completed the two-year programme through distance learning while continuing to work in Rwanda. He is now Director of Human Talent Programmes at Kepler, overseeing programmes in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe skills, experience and academic qualifications I gained through the programme have been among the key factors that have enabled my career growth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that his professional work in refugee education has helped refugees access opportunities in education and employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peace Kwizera, another Commonwealth Scholar, recently completed a Master\u2019s degree in African International Development at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said the experience broadened her understanding of development through exposure to perspectives from different countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMeeting people from all over the world helps you gain different perspectives,\u201d she said, adding that he hoped to apply the knowledge gained to Rwanda\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009, providing another platform for engagement between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both countries maintain cooperation in areas including education, trade, investment, development and climate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The UK Education Alumni Reception took place at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Kigali on October 29, 2026. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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UK High Commissioner to Rwanda Alison Thorpe has called for stronger university partnerships, joint research and innovation between Rwanda and the United Kingdom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Edward Kadozi, Director General of the Higher Education Council, has reaffirmed Rwanda\u2019s commitment to expanding cooperation with the UK in higher education, research and skills development.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stella Bonard Ibango, a Commonwealth Scholarship alumnus (left), graduated from the University of York in 2020 with a Master\u2019s degree in International Humanitarian Affairs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Peace Kwizera (right) recently completed a Master\u2019s degree in African International Development at the University of Edinburgh through the Commonwealth Scholarship Programme.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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UK university alumni have been urged to use their knowledge, skills and international experience to contribute to Rwanda\u2019s development and mentor younger professionals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Approximately 400 Rwandan students have studied at UK universities over the past decade through Government of Rwanda funding and Commonwealth scholarships.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The reception provided an opportunity for UK university alumni, government representatives, academic leaders and other stakeholders to network, share experiences and explore ways to strengthen education cooperation between Rwanda and the UK.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rwanda and the United Kingdom have pledged to expand higher education cooperation, with a focus on university partnerships, joint research, scholarships and knowledge exchange to support skills development and national priorities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000130847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"archived_slugs":[],"footnotes":"","igh_game_id":0},"categories":[45],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[160],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000130844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-theophile-niyitegeka"],"bylines":[{"id":160,"name":"Th\u00e9ophile Niyitegeka","slug":"theophile-niyitegeka","description":"","image":{"id":2000122455,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.50.01-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.50.01 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":3,"twitter_handle":""}],"contributors":[{"id":160,"name":"Th\u00e9ophile Niyitegeka","slug":"theophile-niyitegeka","description":"","image":{"id":2000122455,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.50.01-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.50.01 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":3,"twitter_handle":""}],"featured_image":{"id":2000130847,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/03-image_57.jpg","alt":"","caption":"UK High Commissioner to Rwanda Alison Thorpe has called for stronger university partnerships, joint research and innovation between Rwanda and the United Kingdom.","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":715,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/03-image_57-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/03-image_57-300x215.jpg","width":300,"height":215},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/03-image_57-768x549.jpg","width":768,"height":549},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/03-image_57.jpg","width":1000,"height":715},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/03-image_57.jpg","width":1000,"height":715}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000130844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000130844"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000130844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000130859,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000130844\/revisions\/2000130859"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000130847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000130844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000130844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000130844"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000130844"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000130844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}