Rwandans seeking to pursue doctorate studies will now have the option to pursue it Univerisy of Rwanda effective the next academic.

The university is finalising the curricula for eight doctorate of philosophy (PhD) programmes to be rolled out in the next academic year, The New Times has learnt.

The move is part of the government’s objective to make the  country’s development knowledge-based.

For years, Rwandans wishing to study their doctorate studies have been doing so in either private institutions such as Mt. Kenya University or outside the country.

Speaking to this paper last week, Prof. Nelson Ijumba, the university deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs, said introducing PhD programmes would help increase the number of highly qualified personnel the country needs.

Of the 1,484 University of Rwanda staff, only 281 (19 per cent) are PhD holders.

However, Prof. Ijumba said the number is expected to increase up to 22 per cent by 2018, thanks to the University of Rwanda-Sida-funded programme.

Sida is the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

In the programme, 80 staff are expected to complete their studies in 2018. 

For the first doctorate studies, due for next academic year, Prof. Ijumba said colleges, including of arts and humanities, business and economics, and science and technology, were busy preparing the curricula. 

Pie Habimana, a lawyer with a Master’s degree, has already applied for doctorate studies and obtained his admission letter. 

He said: "PhD is about research, and a country without research barely develop.” 

Habimana said when research is done abroad, it may not tackle well the needs of the country. 

Prof. Ijumba said the university will also start a two-year training on PhD research supervision, which would add on the quality of the PhD students work. 

Eleven more Masters programmes are also expected to be introduced in the second academic year of the university.