Graduates and universities have been urged to carry out research that can help foster community development.

Alphonse Munyantwali, the Governor of the Southern Province, made the remarks at the first graduation of the Catholic University of Rwanda (CUR) on Tuesday.

A total of 901 students, 61 per cent of whom were girls, graduated from the CUR with degrees in various disciplines.

The graduands were from five faculties namely; sciences and technology, public health and human nutrition, commerce, education and social work.

The governor also said that the courses offered at universities should be aligned with the needs of the country.

"We often carry out research but never implement the findings. I want you to be exemplary in implementing research findings,” Munyantwali told the graduates.

He advised them to make use of the opportunities available in the country to create wealth.

"If we do not research on our own issues, if we do not tell our own story, we would be losing opportunities,” he said.

There were nine female among the best 13 performers.

Marie Claire Ihorere, 30, who emerged the best with a first class degree, committed to transforming the community. The graduate of education is a nun.

"Education is the fountain of development. I am committed to offering knowledge that will make students open-minded and innovative,” she said.

Ihorere completed secondary school in 2000 and has been working with Les Soeurs Missionnaires De Notre Dame Des Anges, a missionary group helping vulnerable and teenage mothers to integrate in the community.

"I carried out research on how best a girl can study and complete her studies without getting pregnant,” she said.

The Rector of CUR, Monsignor Jean Marie Vianney Gahizi, called for partnership between the university and other institutions of higher learning to ensure quality education.

"Someone might be moonlighting in three other universities without the university’s knowledge. We want to end this. We also believe partnerships will enable us acquire more equipment,” Gahizi said.

CUR has been working for almost five years since its inception but it got accredited in 2014.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw