A total of 872 students graduated on Friday, March 11 from different departments of the Institute of Applied Science (INES-Ruhengeri) in Musanze District.

At the 13th graduation ceremony, the finalists were awarded degrees from 19 departments, including Biomedical Laboratory Sciences; Biotechnology; Civil Engineering; Land Administration and Management; Statistics Applied to Economy; Education; and Law.

Nine of the graduates were rewarded with master's degrees.

"We are very glad to have held the graduation ceremony physically after Covid-19; during the pandemic, we were able to digitize our teaching so that the students would not miss any courses," Father Dr. Fabien Hagenimana, the Vice-Chancellor of INES-Ruhengeri, said.

"We expect from the graduates to contribute to the labour market through good service delivery. We are confident that the knowledge they have acquired will enable them to contribute to our country's development."

Father Hagenimana said this year's ceremony was held under the theme "Shifting from Paper to Product" which was inspired by the institute's will to impart knowledge needed on the labour market.

The graduates said the graduation day was a time for joy, after years of hard work and uncertainties brought about by the pandemic.

Benson Majok, a South Sudanese national who received a master's degree in microfinance, said: "I am proud to say that we've made it despite the pandemic. I am also glad to have completed my studies here, and congratulations to all my fellow graduates today."

For Gikumi Ukwitegetse, who got a bachelor's degree with first class honours in computer science, graduation is beyond her personal honor.

"On this day, I feel that I've been able to accomplish the target I set years ago. I'm thankful to my family and FAWE-Rwanda who sponsored my tuition; they have always been on my side."

While the majority of this year's graduates are Rwandan nationals, 37 come from foreign countries. Out of the 872 graduates 408 are female.

Fr. Fabien Hagenimana, the Vice-Chancellor of INES-Ruhengeri, speaks during the graduation ceremony on Friday.

Some of the graduates from the Faculty of Applied Fundamental Sciences.

The class of 2022 marked the 13th graduation ceremony of NES-Ruhengeri.