{"id":54308,"date":"2025-05-27T19:31:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/auca-and-mastercard-foundation-partner-to-boost-rwanda-s-digital-talent\/"},"modified":"2025-05-27T18:43:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T18:43:54","slug":"auca-and-mastercard-foundation-partner-to-boost-rwanda-s-digital-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/auca-and-mastercard-foundation-partner-to-boost-rwanda-s-digital-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"AUCA and Mastercard Foundation partner to boost Rwanda\u2019s digital talent pipeline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Since its launch just over a year ago, the AUCA Software Innovation Center has become a hub for hands-on learning, innovation, and industry collaboration. The initiative bridges the gap between classroom education and real-world tech challenges, preparing students for meaningful careers in the digital economy by equipping them with the skills, confidence, and mindset they need.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe AUCA Innovation Center has always been part of our long-term dream to integrate technology and innovation into the core of our academic mission,\u201d said Assoc. Prof. Eustace Penniecook, Vice Chancellor of AUCA. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, we are proud to see that dream become reality\u2014and even more proud to see how this initiative aligns with Rwanda\u2019s Vision 2050 to build a knowledge-based, digital economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Center is closely aligned with national priorities, including Rwanda\u2019s Vision 2050 and the National Digital Talent Policy, by focusing on digital inclusion, innovation, and youth employment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is more than academic innovation\u2014it\u2019s a strategic response to Rwanda\u2019s development priorities,\u201d said Assoc. Prof. Theogene Niyonzima, Academic Vice Chancellor. \u201cWe are preparing digital talent that the country and continent need.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Students are trained in high-demand areas such as cybersecurity, mobile programming, cloud computing, data science, and UI\/UX design. These practical skills are essential for thriving in a global digital economy.<\/p>\n<p>Commenting on the skills gained, Diane Habimana Ishimwe, a software engineering student, said: \u201cThe hands-on courses in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and data science built my confidence. I later secured an internship at RISA, where I gained real-world experience in Rwanda\u2019s tech ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Innovation Center\u2019s impact is also driven by strong partnerships. A collaboration with AmaliTech, launched in September 2024, is providing mentorship and internship opportunities to help students transition into the workforce. <\/p>\n<p>Additionally, a memorandum of understanding signed with Irembo in October 2024 allows students to engage in live public service tech projects, while a recent agreement with German Test Solution brings global engineering training standards to AUCA.<\/p>\n<p>The program is also a force for inclusion. With more than 60% female participation, it is helping break gender barriers and inspire more young women to enter the tech space. Students have also gained international exposure through platforms like the Global AI Summit in Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Grace Ishimwe Umwiza, a health cluster innovator, built a maternal and child health monitoring system through the program and now sees herself as a digital health advocate. <\/p>\n<p>Final-year student Hope Wilberforce Tuyishime credited the Mastercard Foundation-supported training with fast-tracking his career by equipping him with web development and big data skills.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is about unlocking the potential of young minds to solve Africa\u2019s most pressing challenges,\u201d said Prince Ishimwe Mukotsi, the Center\u2019s coordinator.<\/p>\n<p>Through its expanding reach and deep commitment to youth-led solutions, the Center is positioning AUCA and Rwanda as a leading force in Africa\u2019s digital transformation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88076 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a5514.jpg\" alt=\"Since its launch just over a year ago, the AUCA Software Innovation Center has become a hub for hands-on learning, innovation, and industry collaboration. \" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88077 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/5m1a3124.jpg\" alt=\"Students are trained in high-demand areas such as cybersecurity, mobile programming, cloud computing, data science, and UI\/UX design. These practical skills are essential for thriving in a global digital economy.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88075 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/5m1a3136.jpg\" alt=\"The Center is closely aligned with national priorities, including Rwanda\u2019s Vision 2050 and the National Digital Talent Policy, by focusing on digital inclusion, innovation, and youth employment.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88074 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/5m1a3142.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88072 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/5m1a3150.jpg\" alt=\"The initiative bridges the gap between classroom education and real-world tech challenges, preparing students for meaningful careers in the digital economy by equipping them with the skills, confidence, and mindset they need.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88073 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/5m1a3187.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88071 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/5m1a3191.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88078 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a5500.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88079 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a5001.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88080 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a5089.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88081 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a5118.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88070 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a5188.jpg\" alt=\"The Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is accelerating efforts to equip young Rwandans with vital digital skills through its growing Software Innovation Center, a key initiative aimed at strengthening the country\u2019s digital talent pipeline.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88083 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/1m6a4989.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is accelerating efforts to equip young Rwandans with vital digital skills through its growing Software Innovation Center, a key initiative aimed at strengthening the country\u2019s digital talent pipeline.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000088068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-54308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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