Rwanda’s partnership and close ties with world leading universities has in recent years contributed to the growth of a pool of professionals in the country.
Rwanda’s partnership and close ties with world leading universities has in recent years contributed to the growth of a pool of professionals in the country.
The latest addition to the pool of professionals courtesy of such partnerships is 41 graduates of Masters in Business Administration from the Oklahoma Christian University yesterday.
The graduates underwent intensive one-year course in various fields such Accounting, Finance, Leadership and Project Management, among others.
The American varsity commenced its operations in Rwanda in 2012 following a previous relationship with the government beginning 2006 initiated by President Paul Kagame offering undergraduate scholarships to the university.
The recent batch of graduates are professionals working in government agencies, the private sector and from the business community.
The students in Kigali take their classes primarily online with the guidance of facilitators in Oklahoma.
The continued partnership is expected to further facilitate national development by continually developing skills and capacities relevant for Rwanda’s socio-economic growth.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Minister for Education, Papias Musafiri, said there was high expectation from the graduates to contribute to the socio-economic transformation of the country using their recently acquired skills.
"We welcome you to join in the building and development of the country,” Musafiri said.
He added that government would continue to support such partnership with world leading universities to build much needed capacities in the country.
Dr Scott Lamascus, the vice-president for academic affairs at the institution, called on the graduates to be of service to their country and ensure they have an impact in their work.
He said the graduates acquired both qualitative and quantitative skills and an understanding of business ethics that would have a positive impact to the national business environment in the long run.
Lamascus said the university was looking at going beyond the courses offered to offer other relevant programmes that would contribute to national development.
"It is our hope that we will find more areas that are defined as a need by the Rwandan government, corporations and people which we can provide capacities in,” Dr Lamascus said.
This is the third batch of students to graduate from the programme; last year, they were 42 graduates and 38 in the previous year.
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