Up to 436 students will today graduate with degrees and certificates in different disciplines during the fourth graduation ceremony of the former Rwanda Tourism University College, now University of Technology and Business studies (UTB).

The graduands are from the faculties of Capacity Building in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Travel and Tourism Management and Business Information Technology and Vocational Training programme.

Speaking during a news conference, yesterday, Dr Callixte Kabera, the UTB Vice Chancellor, said their focus is to produce competent graduates through careful recruitment of lecturers, giving students sufficient time for industrial attachment, and emphasis on communication, among others.

"We provide courses in different areas. For our students to acquire adequate skills and qualify for the labour market, we facilitate them in getting more than five months internship in different organisations such as travel and tourism agencies, restaurants and hotels, among others. Because of that approach, 85 per cent of our students get employed in both private and public sector as soon as they graduate,” he said.

Michael Murenzi, one of the students set to graduate today, hailed the University for their efforts.

"Besides formal courses, I did a seven-month internship as a tour guide. This gave me experience and more skills that I would otherwise not have got, had I not been at UTB,” he said.

UTB started in 2006 as RTUC before changing the name to UTB in October last year.

UTB currently has 4236 students in both its Kigali and Rubavu campuses. This year, it projects to construct new premises in Rebero, Kigali, for better accommodation. The premises will include lecture halls, libraries, hostels, and a cultural village, among others.

UTB also partners with different organisations and learning institutions, such as ATLAS, Association of hospitality and tourism schools in Africa (AHTSA), and UN World Tourism Organisation, Universities worldwide.

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