Rwanda’s Ambassador to Washington, Mathilde Mukantabana has held discussions with St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, US on the possibility of a partnership with the University of Rwanda in priority areas.

According to a statement from the Rwandan Embassy in Washington, Amb. Mukantabana met with members of the top University leadership, including the University president Thomas Mengler, last week.

The Texas-based University has expressed interest in introducing accredited programmes to Rwanda, mainly in engineering and health related disciplines, according to a statement.

"Industrial engineering is a potential area of collaboration between St Mary’s University and Rwanda, in order to strengthen the health sector,” it said.

Mengler shared with Amb. Mukantabana and other members from the embassy delegation, St Mary’s plans of going global, hence their interest in building a relationship between the school and Rwanda.

"President Mengler recognised the post-genocide achievements that Rwanda has made, and admired the leadership that has greatly contributed to the rise of a new nation.”

Mukantabana also met with several Deans of key departments.

With Rwanda’s current focus in strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, Dr Winston Erevelles, the Dean of the Engineering and Technology Programmes acknowledged that the partnership would be timely to boost the much needed Industrial engineering and health sector in Rwanda.

Varsity impressed with Rwanda’s homegrown solutions

Meanwhile, Amb. Mukantabana also met with Deans of, Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate Programmes and Law School with whom she shared the major justice system developments that Rwanda has achieved through homegrown solutions such as the Gacaca Courts. 

Dr Steven Sheppard, the Dean of the Law School expressed his admiration for Gacaca courts, noting that the traditional jurisdiction, "served not only as a justice system, but also as a vehicle for forgiveness and reconciliation.”

While at the University, Mukantabana presented an overview of the progress that Rwanda has made since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The event was attended by students, faculty members, and some community members who engaged the Ambassador and other embassy officials on a number of issues about Rwanda.

The envoy emphasized that the country’s liberation is an ongoing process as the government continues to liberate the citizens from poverty and other hindrances in the society.

During a working dinner, President Mengler said the relationship between Rwanda and the school would bring about scholarship and partnership opportunities.

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