The Ministry of Education, through the Higher Education Council (HEC), on 4 May 2026, officially launched a nationwide outreach programme to higher learning institutions.

The launch was officiated by the Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, at the University of Rwanda – College of Science and Technology.

This initiative aims to bridge the gap between the regulator and institutions, fostering collaboration to enhance the quality of teaching and learning across Rwandan higher learning institutions.

It will provide a platform for engagement with institutional leadership, academic staff, and the wider academic community to discuss key issues affecting higher education, gather feedback, and jointly identify necessary changes.

The Minister stressed the importance of collaboration, noting: “Through this engagement, we want to listen, understand the realities within our institutions, and work together to address the challenges affecting teaching, learning, research, and overall institutional performance. This is about co-creating practical and sustainable solutions that respond to the real needs of our higher education system.”

He highlighted the focus on quality, stating that the outreach is about strengthening quality across the entire system—quality in programmes, teaching, research, governance, and ultimately in the outcomes to be delivered.

“We are creating space for open and honest dialogue with leadership, faculty, and students to identify what is working and where improvement is needed,” he said.

The Minister also underscored Rwanda’s long-term vision:

“We are building a higher education system that goes beyond today’s needs—one that positions Rwanda as a regional hub for quality education, research, and innovation. This means attracting talent, strengthening international partnerships, and producing skilled graduates who contribute directly to national and regional development.”

The outreach will cover both public and private institutions and will include campus visits, meetings with university leadership and faculty, as well as engagement sessions with students.

Speaking at the launch, the Director General of the Higher Education Council (HEC) stated that higher education must be repositioned as a direct engine of Rwanda’s economic transformation.

“Higher learning institutions are not just centres of learning; they are drivers of innovation, competitiveness, and national development. To achieve this, institutions must align their programmes with labour market needs and equip graduates with relevant skills for today’s economy,” he said.

He noted the need to shift from supply-driven academic models to demand-responsive systems that are closely connected to industry and national priorities.

This transformation, he added, will ensure that higher learning institutions produce graduates who are job-ready, innovative, and capable of contributing to sustainable economic growth.

“Strengthening faculty capacity, research, and innovation is essential for building a competitive higher education system. Investment in doctoral training, research infrastructure, and industry collaboration will enable our institutions to generate knowledge, drive innovation, and position Rwanda as a regional hub for higher education,” he added.

Anticipated outcomes

Various outcomes are expected from the HEC outreach to Higher Learning Institutions.

These include improved understanding of the national policy direction for higher education, addressing institutional challenges, and enhanced orientation on education excellence and quality assurance.

The outcomes also include a clearer understanding of the implementation of the five-year strategic plan and reporting framework, as well as increased clarity on quality assurance requirements and expectations across institutions.

At the end of the outreach, an institutional report will be prepared for each Higher Learning Institution and shared with clear, mutually agreed actionable interventions.

He added that the Higher Education Sector Strategic Plan 2025–2030 provides a framework for this endeavour, with a focus on programme relevance, quality assurance, and strengthening research and innovation.

The outreach will also assess infrastructure and learning facilities as part of efforts to understand issues affecting programme delivery.

The initiative is expected to result in institutional reports outlining key findings and recommended actions for each university, as well as informing policy decisions.