The Government, representing the National University of Rwanda (NUR), this week, signed a US$7.8 million grant with the Swedish Government to support research and capacity building at the institution.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the fund will be committed to institutional strengthening for research capacity, which includes support for lecturers to pursue PHD and masters’ programmes, as well as expansion of ICT at the university.

Specifically, five Swedish academic institutions will facilitate PhD and Masters studies, through collaboration between researchers from Rwanda and Sweden.

The move is part of a long term research cooperation programme for the period 2010-2014 and it is in line with the government’s long term vision of building a knowledge-based economy, with a skilled workforce that can compete on the global market.

Research at local universities, needs to be encouraged and supported if our institutions are going to help drive development and innovation in all sectors of the economy.

Yet for universities to be at the heart of the knowledge based economy, that Rwanda seeks to be, they must produce high quality graduates who will sustain innovation and investment. This can only be achieved through research.

Ends