The University of Rwanda (UR), Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and Curtin University, a leading tertiary education institution based in Australia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a partnership focused on developing academic and scientific collaboration.

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The signing ceremony took place Tuesday, September 5, in Perth, Australia. It was officiated by UR Vice Chancellor Prof. Didas M. Kayihura, Rwanda Polytechnic Vice Chancellor Dr. Sylvie Mucyo, and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Global, at Curtin College Prof. Seth Kunin.

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Rwanda Development Board was represented at the signing ceremony by Edward Kadozi, the Sector Strategic Capacity Building Analyst.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Rwanda’s High Commissioner in Australia, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, and the Chief Executive officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, Yamina Karitanyi.

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Kayihura explained that while the MoU gives room for the signatories to expand the scope, the initial focus will be on mining and health sciences.

He expressed delight at the opportunity to work with Curtin University, which is a world leader in the fields of mining and geology.

"We have a very young school of mining and geology at the university of Rwanda which really needs support from all our partners. In particular, Curtin University ranks highly worldwide when it comes to mining and geology and we can never have any other strategic partner like Curtin University when it comes to mining and geology related training,” Kayihura said.

A booster for Rwanda’s competitiveness

RDB was buoyed up by the signing of the MoU which it said is in line with Rwanda’s policy stance of positioning herself as a regional as a regional knowledge and innovation hub, including in heath science and mining.

The latter remains a very critical sector for Rwanda’s economic growth, but it is largely affected by skills gaps.

Most workers who are in this sector have skills gaps of about 62 per cent, Kadozi disclosed.

This, he said, affects the volumes of the mines, the quality and decency of the mining activity, from artisans up to the high level of the mining value chain.

"We are working hard to make sure that we attract these skills to Rwanda to bridge these gaps and, in so doing, we are increasing Rwanda’s competitiveness. That’s why we engaged Curtin University to make sure that we are contributing to those skills,” Kadozi noted.