Rwanda, Finland mull collaboration in education, entrepreneurship

The Minister of State for Education, Claudette Irere, on Thursday, September 14, signed agreements with a university of applied sciences in Finland signaling a commitment to promote and expand international cooperation in educational activities, among other things. ALSO READ: What opportunities exist for Rwanda-Finland ties? According to a statement by the Rwandan embassy in Finland, the Government of Rwanda, represented by Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere, forged agreements with Tampere University of Applied Sciences, and Finest Bay Area Development Oy, signaling a commitment to promote and expand international cooperation, educational activities, and to stimulate and support educational, with a focus on TVET, applied sciences, entrepreneurship, professional, and intercultural endeavors within the respective institutions and their communities. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Finland look to stronger economic cooperation Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), a university of applied sciences in the region of Pirkanmaa, Finland, stands as a versatile and esteemed institution, serving as an educator, innovator, and partner within the realm of the working world. It has five schools that seamlessly interlink education, research, development, and business activities: the School of Built Environment and Bioeconomy; School of Business and Media; School of Industrial Engineering; School of Pedagogical Innovations and Culture; and School of Social Services and Health Care. The MoU was formally executed during the Rwanda Business Forum held in Helsinki, Finland. The forum, organized by the Rwandan Embassy, Rwandan Community in Finland, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Finnpartnership, and Hills Connect, convened an assembly of prominent entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and a distinguished Rwandan delegation. Finnpartnership, a dedicated business partnership programme, supports Finnish companies and enterprises in developing countries by facilitating the exploration of new business prospects and fostering valuable partnerships. The programme is generously endowed with an annual budget of approximately Euros 4 million, sourced from the development cooperation appropriations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Hills Connect, comprising Rwandans residing and working in Finland, is committed to attracting Finnish investors to Rwanda. In close collaboration with the Embassy of Rwanda to the Nordics, based in Stockholm, Hills Connect introduced Block Solutions Ltd (construction) and Aion Sigma (Financial inclusion) to Rwanda, both of which initiated operations, as well as fostered connections with numerous universities. The Rwandan Minister is poised to sign another MoU with Finest Bay Area Development Oy, a venture initiated by renowned Finnish entrepreneur Peter Vesterbacka who is commonly known as Mighty Eagle. Vesterbacka is a Finnish mobile game developer and former CMO of Rovio Entertainment Corporation. He is responsible for the development of the gaming company Rovio Entertainment's business and has been involved in making the popular Angry Birds. TIME magazine chose Vesterbacka for 2011, the world's Hundred Most Influential People list. The MoU will facilitate a range of collaborative efforts, including the establishment of a Finnish model Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Regional Centre of Excellence for Africa in Rwanda, operating on a commercial basis. It will also enable traineeship placements in Finland, and prioritize education in fields such as energy technology, mechanical technology, information technology, and nursing. Furthermore, the collaboration aims to organize incubation and startup support for innovative companies in Rwanda, particularly in gaming, AI, IoT, and emerging sectors. Plans include hosting a startup event in Rwanda, in 2024, akin to renowned events such as SLUSH, ICE, or Arctic15. Claudette said this endeavor aligns seamlessly with the government's strategic agenda to bolster Rwanda's stature as a technology hub and enhance job security. She emphasized that the establishment of such a campus will empower Rwandans to effectively compete on the global stage. Rwanda’s envoy to the country, Amb. Diane Gashumba, affirmed Rwanda's clear vision and ambition to become Africa's leading country in innovation, education, and technology, fostering partnerships with nations like Finland to strive to develop Rwanda's teaching force to realize this goal. With decades of experience in education, entrepreneurship, entertainment, and initiatives such as the SLUSH startup conference and Ambitious Africa, Vesterbacka, founder of Finest Bay Area expressed enthusiasm for this collaboration and plans for 2024. The Catholic University of Rwanda, represented by the Chancellor, Archbishop Philippe Rukamba, also inked an MoU with Finest Future, an entity owned by Vesterbacka. This partnership aims to introduce the teaching of the Finnish language at a cost, thereby paving the way for Rwandans to pursue studies in Finland up to the doctoral level, without incurring tuition fees.

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Rwanda, Finland mull collaboration in education, entrepreneurship