Graduates, especially those with advanced degrees, have been challenged to look beyond their academic papers and demonstrate willingness and capacity to produce quality work.

John Mirenge, the RwandAir chief executive officer, said having a master’s or doctorate is useless if one cannot use the knowledge acquired to advance society or improve processes in their workplace.

"An academic document is not everything... It is rather more of your ability to deliver beyond expectations on one’s job using the skills acquired from advanced training,” he said while presiding over the graduation ceremony of 28 staff members of Tigo Rwanda, who acquired degrees in masters in business administration from Mount Kenya University-Kigali campus on Thursday.

Tongai Maramba, the telecom’s general manager, urged the graduates to use their newly acquired skills to strengthen the company’s growth.

"The company has invested a lot of money in seeing you through this programme, so we expect to see results in form of your contribution the company’s growth,” he said at the ceremony in Kigali.

Maramba said the company parts with $200,000 (about Rwf135.7 million) each year to build the capacities of its staff.