The Higher Education Council (HEC) has called on higher learning institutions to translate investments in infrastructure, equipment and academic facilities into tangible research, innovation and solutions that contribute to Rwanda’s development.

The call was made on Thursday, 6 August 2026, as HEC, together with the Ministry of Education, continued its nationwide outreach program to higher learning institutions with a visit to Mount Kigali University.

The engagement brought together HEC officials, university management, academic staff and students for discussions on academic quality, infrastructure, research and innovation, governance, programmes, and the role of higher education institutions in advancing Rwanda’s knowledge-based economy.

Speaking during the engagement, HEC Director General, Dr. Edward Kadozi, noted that Rwanda’s higher education sector has made significant investments in infrastructure and learning facilities. He emphasised the need for institutions to ensure that such investments generate measurable outcomes through research, innovation and solutions that respond to national development priorities.

“We are seeing substantial investment in infrastructure across universities. The challenge now is ensuring those investments translate into outputs—research, patents, innovations and solutions that contribute to national development,” Dr. Kadozi said.

He stressed that higher learning institutions have a critical role to play in driving innovation and supporting Rwanda’s development ambitions, particularly through research that responds to real challenges facing communities, industries and the country.

According to Dr. Kadozi, innovation will be central to creating the jobs required to support Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation. He therefore called on universities to strengthen their research and innovation ecosystems and make greater use of the infrastructure and resources already available to them.

HEC is encouraging higher learning institutions to progressively allocate at least 10 percent of their institutional income to research and innovation over the next five years. Such investment, Dr. Kadozi noted, would help strengthen research capacity, increase innovation outputs and support the development of solutions with practical impact.

As part of the outreach, the HEC delegation toured various facilities at Mount Kigali University to gain a first-hand view of the institution’s learning environment and infrastructure supporting teaching and practical training.

The tour included the university’s hotel training facility, where hospitality students undertake practical training, as well as the teaching kitchen and different laboratories. The delegation also visited dental laboratories and health sciences laboratories used by students for practical and clinical training.

The delegation further visited new buildings under construction, providing an opportunity to observe the university’s ongoing infrastructure development and expansion.

The facility tour provided an opportunity for HEC to assess how infrastructure and learning facilities are being utilised to support teaching and learning, while also engaging with the institution on opportunities for continued quality enhancement.

The Vice Chancellor of Mount Kigali University, Dr. Martin Kimenya, shared the university’s progress, priorities and areas requiring continued collaboration with HEC. He highlighted the university’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the Higher Education Strategic Plan, the Education Sector Strategic Plan and the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).

The university is also placing greater emphasis on experiential learning, including simulations, industrial attachments, clinical placements and engagement with industry in curriculum development. These approaches are intended to ensure that graduates acquire not only academic knowledge but also practical competencies relevant to the labour market.

Dr. Kimenya noted that the university’s focus extends beyond classroom learning to preparing graduates for opportunities in Rwanda and the wider global labour market. The university has established partnerships and support systems aimed at enhancing students’ practical skills and international opportunities.

The visit to Mount Kigali University forms part of HEC’s ongoing nationwide outreach program to higher learning institutions. The initiative provides a platform for HEC to engage directly with institutions, understand their progress and challenges, and promote continuous improvement in quality, governance, research, innovation, infrastructure and graduate outcomes.

Through the outreach program, HEC is strengthening collaboration with higher learning institutions to advance a higher education system that is responsive to national priorities, promotes excellence and equips graduates with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation.