Call for research-informed action

Research conducted in higher institutions of learning should be translated into stand alone projects and action, officials from universities, Rwanda Education Board (REB), Ministry of Education and Rwanda Development Board have said. They were speaking at a workshop organised to review the national policy on research, science and innovation in Kigali yesterday. The policy was approved in 2005 but came into force in 2006. Dr Marie-Christine Gasingirwa, the director general of science, technology and research at the Ministry of Education, said: “Students at all levels need to be challenged with more practicals to initiate them into developing things from what they have learnt. This is why we have introduced more practical subjects in the new curriculum.” Following reports that several institutions conduct research that generates several results but hardly implement the ideas, this team of experts is now focusing on the need to transform research ideas into viable projects that can benefit society. The Ministry of Education has previously made efforts in making research more relevant through working together with several institutions such as the Global Knowledge Initiative and RDB. This helped address a number of issues but not all; eventually calling for revision of the policy to put research and innovation at the forefront of industrial growth and business setups. Restrictions to utilisation Among the issues Gasingirwa cited is the need to drive research projects into creating value addition in locally made products. “Small and medium enterprises have often failed to meet the demands of the market. Their innovations and application of scientific skills is limited,” she explained. Such companies often lack skills and manpower to promote continuity as well as monitoring and evaluation which hold back sustainability. “Connecting pillars of research, innovation and entrepreneurship would result into sustainable projects,” said Steven Mutabazi, an advisor at RDB. “RDB is currently working on an Innovation Fund that will help set up new projects,” Mutabazi added. Mike Hughes, an advisor on science, technology and innovation at the University of Rwanda, said: “There is need to increase the supply of employable graduates, through knowledge creation, scanning opportunities, and creating a strong coordination mechanism.” The implementation The plan is to implement the developments at the district level and the officials are looking at publicising possible business innovations in all districts. Although most new projects have failed to take off because of insufficient funds, individuals with viable research ideas can be availed with money. This year over 300 people with projects applied for funding and, through a competitive exercise, the best eight research projects were considered by the Education ministry. The winners were guided through proper business plans that have now fully developed. In addition to research, to encourage acquisition of skills and employability, internships are organised for students. But this cannot operate alone and, Jean Claude Bahati, a research and development officer at Inyage Industries advises that: “More linkages need to be created between researchers and the private sector.”

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Call for research-informed action