KIGALI - Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) is set to translate its numerous centres of learning and research into avenues for generating internal revenues in a bid to transform the operations of the institution.

Refocusing of KIST to generate its own revenue streams, comes at a time when the government is realigning the overall funding for higher education.

The government, the new KIST Rector says, has elaborated new approaches of funding higher education to reflect the new realities, where students capable of paying for higher education are not offered government support.

In an exclusive interview granted to the New Times, Dr. Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, says that part of her mandate as KIST Rector would be to tap into the institution’s huge resource base to transform its service provisions as a centre of education and research excellence in the country.

"Part of my new mandate is to tap into KIST’s huge resource base that has been built over the years in order to eventually transform the institution into a regional as well as a continental centre of learning,” she said.

"In order to deliver on that promise, we need to mobilise additional resources over and above what government provides.”

Mujawamariya took over from Professor Abraham Atta Ogwu, who left at the end of March to proceed with research and spend more time with his family.

"I am convinced that it is now an appropriate time to leave. This will enable me to continue with my academic leadership as a tenured Professor, leading internationally significant research with my doctoral and post doctoral researches in advanced Nanotechnology,” Atta Ogwu wrote.

"I also wish to spend more time with my family in the UK,” he added.

Atta Ogwu, who spent two years at the helm, pledged to support Rwanda’s vision to prosper through technological development.

"I am a firm believer in the vision of His Excellency President Paul Kagame to lift Rwanda and Africa into prosperity through the development of science and technology and I will support this process in and out of Rwanda,” he said.

Mujawamariya is determined to oversee the transformation of KIST into an institution that will sustainably serve the needs of the country. Read the exclusive interview in the Friday issue of The New Times

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