KIGALI - Kigali Independent University (ULK), will from next year, begin offering Masters Degree courses in various disciplines.

The Rector, Dr Ezekiel Sekibibi, made the announcement during a one-day workshop aimed at streamlining the process of establishing the new programs.

"The main objective of introducing the master’s programs is to continue contributing to national development through enabling Rwandans to always be academically competitive at all levels,” Sekibibi said.

The institution will begin with Masters in Business Administration, Accounting, International Public Law, Business in Finance, Economics and Development Studies.

Sekibibi noted that since ULK’s establishment, over 11,000 students have graduated with Bachelor’s Degree in various disciplines, saying that the majority of them wanted to pursue graduate programs.

He noted that the university sent a team of lecturers to various universities in the region, as a way of forging partnerships, gain skills and experiences on how best the master’s programs can effectively and efficiently be implemented.

The Rector disclosed that the construction of classrooms for the graduate programs will be completed by November.

In an interview, Robert Munyurangabo who graduated at the university two years ago said: "I think this is a great initiative because we are living in a dynamic world which requires us to be academically competitive.”

Joseph Ndoli, a law graduate from the university said that the introduction of master’s programs at ULK is imperative as it would reduce financial challenges faced by Rwandan students who are impelled to study further in other countries.

He urged other institutions in the country to come up with similar initiatives, saying that this would enable the country to achieve sustainable development.

Ends