Professor Robert Rugimbana has assumed office as the new Vice Chancellor of University of Kigali. At a meeting to formally introduce the new Vice Chancellor to the university’s Executive Organ, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Philibert Afrika expressed optimism in Prof. Rugimbana’s ability to utilize his experience in leading the university and ensuring the achievement of its strategic goals.

Rugimbana holds a BSc. (Ed) degree from the University of Dar-es Salaam, a Master of Business Administration from University of Newcastle and a PhD from Macquarie University. He brings to this new role many years’ experience in important university academic roles such as lecturing at Newcastle University, Griffith University, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University; and governance roles such as Executive Dean, Campus Rector, Associate Dean, Director of a Graduate School and Head of Department. 

Prof Robert Rugimbana, the new Vice Chancellor at the University of Kigali

As an accomplished academic researcher, Professor Rugimbana’s main research interests are in the areas of International Consumer Psychology, Cross-Cultural Marketing and Poverty alleviation, Enterprise Development & Entrepreneurship, International Marketing Education, Corporate Social Responsibility as well as Diffusion of Technologies in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Philibert Africa, the Chairman, Board of Directors at the University of Kigali

His works appear in prestigious journals, such as the European Journal of Marketing, the Journal of African Business, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, Australasian Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Management, Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Journal of Psychology & Marketing. 

He has also published several book chapters and internationally-refereed and accredited journal and conference papers. He completed an edited book on Cross-Cultural Marketing published by Thomson Learning International Business Press – UK in 2002, co-authored an award-winning Principles of Core Marketing textbook published in 2008 by McGraw-Hill, Australia, an adaptation of Kotler & Armstrong - South African edition 2010 and 2015 and recently Applied Strategic Marketing, 5th Edition in 2020. He is currently a co-author of a Marketing Text book titled "Essentials of Marketing” by Routledge Publishing, UK.

Acknowledging welcome messages from members of the Executive Organ, the new Vice Chancellor thanked UoK’s Board of Directors for their confidence in him and assured the team of an inclusive leadership style which will value contributions from the various stakeholder groups of the university. 

UK staff