The long awaited application for the relocation of National University of Rwanda (NUR) School of Journalism is finally set for June, 2011. 

NUR officials reveal that all students will start their studies at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) since the plans to move the faculties received the cabinet consent early this year.

At the beginning of last semester journalism students were stuck, not knowing whether they were supposed to go back to the Huye main campus or to come to Kigali as earlier projected.

"The good news is that the reallocation plan of the School of Journalism and Communications from the National University main Campus in Huye, to Kigali got the cabinet approval. The implementation is set for June this year,” says NUR Rector Prof. Silas Lwakabamba.

Lwakabamba said that the university is logistically ready to relocate the faculty by next semester in June. He explained that the delays were caused by the required paperwork signaling approval from the cabinet.

Initially, the plan was to move the faculty from the main campus in Huye District to Kigali, to also help students access more lecturers and also facilitate more enrolment in the evening programme.

Once in Kigali, the school will merge with the Kigali-based Great Lakes Media Centre (GLMC). The centre which also operates under NUR which currently offers certificates and diplomas in short media courses to practicing journalists.

Prior to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, there was no school of journalism in Rwanda and no tradition of formal journalism education or systematic training.

Rwanda’s journalists were either trained outside the country or more likely, trained ‘on the job’.

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