The Institute of Applied Sciences (INES) - Ruhengeri has pledged to work harder to ensure that practical skills essential in the job market are imparted on the students and contribute to national development.

Officials said this on Friday during a career day organised by the university at their campus in Musanze.

The event was marked by the students from various faculties exhibiting products of research done over past few months, an event that attracted leaders within the public and private sector.

Former students who graduated from the university and have managed to create jobs also exhibited their products.

The institution boasts of various faculties, including biotechnology, statistics, land administration and management, land survey, civil engineering, applied economics, enterprises management and public administration among others.

Exhibitors said the skills they had acquired are enough for them to create jobs upon graduation.

"We have acquired enough practical skills that can help us make various products such as juice, wine, yogurt and cheese among other products and we are already working with Rwanda Standards Board to ensure our products have the required standards,” said Dei Gracia Umurungi, one of the students.

"Though our products are not sold beyond the school campus at the moment, their quality is standardised and by the time we graduate, we will be able to compete even on the national market and beyond,” said Umurungi, a fourth year student.

Other exhibitors also said skills in various domains such as in land survey and in construction fields, plant biotechnology, among others, will be used even while at school to help local community use their land well, build their houses well and improve agriculture productivity.

The rector of INES-Ruhengeri, Fr Dr Fabien Hagenimana, said over years, the varsity has been working hard to transition from a pedagogy that is theoretical to one that is practical.

He said the research done in 2008 by the institute revealed a mismatch between fresh graduates and the labour market, which pushed them to become an institute of applied sciences.

Hategekimana said they are still working hard to ensure they get academic materials and qualified lecturers to help students acquire necessary skills to be able to create own jobs and serve the community.

The careers day was organised under the theme of "Shifting from Paper to People.”

INES has also created a business incubation centre that brings together students, graduates, staff members and members of the community to help instill business acumen among the students and members of the surrounding community.

Local leaders commended INES for its role in socio-economic development, saying it helps them in developing infrastructure and agriculture, among other sectors.

Last year, the State Minister for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Albert Nsengiyumva, visited the campus and commended it for promoting practical skills that are essential in the labour market.

He said what the institution is doing is in line with government’s programme of fostering hands on skills, adding that applied sciences will complement TVET programmes to enhance self employment and entrepreneurship.

"Applied sciences aim at solving local problems. We know that over 80 per cent of Rwandans depend on agriculture. We need to employ our skills to ascertain soil nature, and carry out research on land while multiplying seeds to suit the land available,” Nsengiyumva said.

Currently, INES has around 3,500 students offering different programmes.

jmbonyinshuti@newtimes.co.rw