Higher education

18 Nov 2010

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Short description of the higher education system

Rwanda has twenty higher education institutions, which include six public universities and fourteen private institutes. Most higher education institutions are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. The first university to be established was the National University of Rwanda (NUR) in 1963. Higher education lecturers must hold a master’s or PhD degree, which many of them earn abroad. Around 100 university staff members hold a PhD degree; most of them are employed at the NUR.

Admission to higher education is highly competitive, especially in the fields of medicine, engineering, law and pharmacy. Approximately 40% of all higher education students are female. In an effort to attract international students, all Rwandan universities operate on a modular, semester system. Most international students are from neighbouring countries where French is the dominant language, and therefore want to adhere to a bilingual system. A system of universités du soir has been established to expand access to higher education, but the quality of courses on offer is debatable.
 

Types of degrees

Higher education institutions in Rwanda offer the following degrees:

  • Diplôme de Technicien Supérieur (two-year programmes in finance, management and computer studies, offered by universities and institutes)
  • Diplôme de Licence / bachelor’s degree (university-level first stage; two-year programmes)
  • Diplôme de l’Ingénieur (university-level second stage, five-year programme)
  • Diplôme de Maîtrise (university-level second stage, two to four-year programme)
  • Diplôme de Docteur en Médicine (university-level second stage, four-year programme)
  • Diplôme de Doctorat (university-level third stage)
  • Diplôme de Spécialisation en Médicine (university-level third stage) 

Quality assurance and accreditation

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Scientific Research is charged with institutional recognition and accreditation and for guaranteeing the quality of higher education. In 2008, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) was set up to assume responsibility for quality assurance and the effective organization of the higher education sector.
 

Recent reforms

English has replaced French as the first language of instruction. Bologna reforms are being implemented in order that Rwandan graduates can continue their studies in Europe. Educational programmes on land reform and legal land rights have been introduced to support land reforms, which are crucial for Rwanda’s socio-economic development. Technical and vocational education institutions have been set up and the Workforce Development Authority established to administer technical and vocational education. Three additional polytechnics are currently being established, bringing the total number in Rwanda to five.

Higher education institutions have received greater financial autonomy. This means they can now allocate higher salaries in order to retain lecturers and thereby reduce the high turnover of academic staff, which is a major problem in Rwandan higher education institutions. As a result of the past genocide, many academic staff in Rwanda are young, and many graduates prefer to find employment in international organizations. In July 2010, Nuffic started its NICHE project in Rwanda (see below). 

The Ministry of Education’s strategic plan for 2005-2010 focuses on:

  • promotion of science and technology teaching, with special attention to ICT;
  • promotion of comprehensive education to promote respect for human rights;
  • improving the planning and management capacity of education administration;
  • promotion of research for national development efforts, and of the harmonization of research programmes.
     

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