The 15th Annual East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum and Conference brought together higher education leaders, quality assurance experts, policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders in Kigali from 7 to 10 September 2026, placing the future of quality and relevance in higher education at the centre of regional dialogue.

Hosted by the Higher Education Council (HEC) Rwanda in collaboration with the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) and the East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN), the forum was held under the theme “Transforming Quality Assurance for Future Ready Higher Education Systems in East Africa.”

The discussions came at a time when higher education is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, digital technologies, changing labour markets, new forms of learning and increasing demand for qualifications that are recognised beyond national borders.

Opening the forum, Minister of Education Hon. Joseph Nsengimana challenged the region to ensure that the discussions translate into practical reforms.

“Our young people, the majority of our region’s population, are asking us a simple but urgent question: Will the education we receive today prepare us for the world of tomorrow?” he said.

The question set the tone for discussions throughout the forum, with participants examining how quality assurance systems must evolve alongside changes in teaching, learning, research, technology and the workplace.

Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the central issues. The forum examined both the opportunities presented by AI and the need for institutions and regulators to establish clear frameworks for its responsible use. Dr. Edward Kadozi, Director General of HEC, highlighted Rwanda’s policy frameworks for virtual learning and AI in education, noting that AI is an indispensable tool that universities must learn to use effectively in teaching, research and other academic activities.

The discussions also highlighted the need for quality assurance to move beyond periodic inspections and compliance towards continuous improvement, evidence based decision making and measurable institutional performance. As Dr. Kadozi noted, “Quality must become the daily heartbeat of our institutions.”

Regional cooperation was another important focus. Participants discussed the recognition and portability of qualifications, student and staff mobility, micro credentials, institutional data, digital quality assurance services and the development of stronger capacity among quality assurance practitioners.

The forum also highlighted emerging regional initiatives in artificial intelligence. The University of Rwanda was among six universities selected to anchor a new regional AI network, reflecting the growing emphasis on building institutional capacity and collaboration around AI across East Africa.

The regional dimension of quality assurance was further underscored by Prof. Idris Ahmada Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA, who noted that the success of quality assurance should increasingly be measured by the capacity and impact it leaves across Partner States and institutions. He also highlighted plans to review regional quality assurance tools to respond to changes in higher education, including the development of regional guidelines for AI supported and digital learning.

Beyond the conference sessions, delegates visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, providing an opportunity to learn about Rwanda’s history and pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. The programme also included a gala dinner hosted by HEC, bringing participants together in a setting that celebrated Rwandan culture and hospitality.

The forum concluded with resolutions that provide a practical direction for the region. These include strengthening the recognition and alignment of qualifications, improving student and staff mobility, developing approaches for quality assurance of micro credentials, strengthening AI governance, digitalising regulatory and quality assurance services, improving institutional data quality and developing sustainable pools of quality assurance trainers.
The resolutions also call for stronger collaboration between higher education institutions, regulators, industry and other stakeholders, credible evidence on graduate quality and equitable access to AI and digital technologies.

Overall, the forum marked a shift from developing frameworks and conducting periodic compliance exercises towards coordinated implementation, continuous quality improvement, responsible AI governance, reliable data and stronger institutional capacity.

For Rwanda, hosting the 15th Annual East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum provided an opportunity to contribute to the regional conversation while sharing the country’s experience in quality assurance, digital transformation and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

As East Africa works towards a more connected and trusted higher education system, the Kigali forum reinforced a central message: quality assurance must not remain a set of standards on paper. It must translate into stronger institutions, trusted qualifications, greater mobility, relevant skills and better outcomes for the students and communities that higher education ultimately serves.