A total of 433 graduates will receive their degrees in various disciplines during the third graduation ceremony at Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC).

Callixte Kabera, the RTUC Vice-Chancellor, announced this at a news briefing in Kigali yesterday.

The ceremony will take place at Petit stade Remera, on Thursday.

Kabera said efforts are ongoing to produce highly competitive graduates capable of creating own jobs and boosting the tourism industry.

He said over 85 per cent of their graduates get jobs in big companies including hotels while the rest have been able to create their own jobs.

"Our courses are 60 per cent hands-on. We also have a six-month internship programme where we link students to the world of work. Our curriculum has been designed to fill existing gaps in the tourism sector and prepare students for life outside school,” he said.

"In addition, we group them in an association for easy access by various employers who need workers,” he added.

He said there are 30 private companies created by former graduates from the institution.

The students train in entrepreneurship and professional service delivery, a major component of economic development, he noted.

Since its inception in 2008, RTUC has passed out 1,558 graduates.

At least 124 of fresh graduands will be awarded bachelors in business information technology, 122 in hotel and restaurant, and 138 in travel and tourism management.

The college initially offered certificates until 2012 when it started offering degrees.

Dr Tombola M.Gustave, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics, said seven undergraduate programmes and two masters’ programmes are to be introduced next academic year to help catch up with the market trends.

The undergraduate courses include transport logistics, ecotourism and natural conservation, entrepreneurship, community development, science and technology, computing and information technology, among others.

"We are committed to promoting tourism and information technology so as to promote the country’s development agenda,” Tombola said.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw