The Higher Education Council (HEC) has presented two strategic frameworks that will guide the future of doctoral education, research and innovation in Rwanda, marking an important milestone in the country's efforts to strengthen postgraduate education and build a more vibrant research and innovation ecosystem.

The frameworks were presented during the National Conference on Reimagining Graduate, Research and Innovation Ecosystem: Shaping Doctoral Education, Research and Innovation in Higher Education, held on 21 July 2026 in Kigali. The conference brought together policymakers, university leaders, researchers, development partners and industry representatives to exchange ideas and identify practical approaches to strengthening doctoral education and research in Rwanda.

Opening the conference, the Minister of Education, hon. Joseph Nsengimana, called on higher learning institutions to go beyond their traditional teaching mandate and become drivers of research, innovation and national development. He underscored the importance of doctoral education in producing graduates who can generate knowledge, solve real-world challenges and contribute to evidence-based policymaking and economic transformation.

Speaking at the conference, the Director General of HEC, Dr. Edward Kadozi, noted that Rwanda has made significant progress in expanding access to higher education and that the next phase of development should focus on strengthening postgraduate education, improving research quality and fostering innovation. He emphasised that stronger collaboration among universities, government, industry and development partners will be essential in building a research ecosystem that delivers meaningful impact for the country.

A key highlight of the conference was the presentation of two strategic frameworks designed to strengthen doctoral education and research across Rwanda's higher education sector. The Postgraduate Research Degree Framework, presented by Professor Hamish Coates, outlines approaches to enhancing postgraduate programme quality, improving doctoral supervision, strengthening graduate outcomes and increasing international competitiveness.

The Research and Innovation Framework , presented by Dr. Olivier Habimana, proposes strategic priorities to strengthen research governance, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, expand research funding, improve research infrastructure and encourage research that addresses national development priorities.

The conference also featured a keynote presentation by Professor Geoffrey R.D. Underhill, Professor Emeritus of International Governance at the University of Amsterdam, on Reimagining Graduate and Doctoral Education to Drive Research Excellence and Global Competitiveness. He highlighted the importance of building human capacity, fostering critical thinking, strengthening research networks and creating an enabling environment where universities can drive innovation and long-term national competitiveness.

Panel discussions brought together representatives from academia, government, industry and development partners to examine key issues shaping the future of doctoral education and research in Rwanda. Discussions focused on research financing, quality assurance, doctoral supervision, university-industry collaboration, international partnerships and the proposed categorisation of higher learning institutions according to their distinct missions and areas of strength.

The conference concluded with a shared commitment from stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in advancing doctoral education, research and innovation. Feedback and recommendations from the conference will be incorporated into both the Rwanda Postgraduate Degree Framework and the Research and Innovation Framework for Higher Education in Rwanda before the refined frameworks are shared with stakeholders in the coming weeks.