Private higher learning institutions urged to work in harmony

Private higher learning institutions have been urged to work in harmony to deliver quality education. The call was made by Dr. Innocent Mugisha, Executive Director of Higher Education Council during the sixth annual colloquium of Rwandan Organisation of Institutions of Higher Learning (ORIPES) that took place at the University of Kibungo in the Eastern Province on Tuesday. During the conference, findings of research on various topics were presented and discussed. The research was conducted on various topics under the theme “From Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Millennium Development Goals: Challenges and opportunities for Rwanda. Dr. Mugisha said research helps increase teaching quality as well as contribute to problem solving in the country as it was conducted on issues that affect communities. He commended the cooperation of private higher learning institutions and urged them to maintain it. “Working together is crucial and should go beyond research. Why not work together to come up with quality programmes,” he said. “Private higher learning institutions should prioritise quality instead of money, by working together, avoid unfair competition and always think about the future graduates our country needs,” he added. Bishop Onesphore Rwaje, the president of the organisation said research helps improve quality of education and contributes to development. “The research we do is driven by the responsibility of our institutions to contribute to the development of the society,” he said. “There has been remarkable progress in the quality of our research compared to how it was when we started,” he added. According to Prof. Gustave Tombola, research coordinator at ORIPES, partnership, research publishing and exchange with various scholars ‘help our institutions improve quality.’ “Our research aims to transform lives through informing decision makers. It is also part of universities’ mission to teach, do research and publish,” he said. “Since November last year, research was conducted on the contribution of microcredit to poverty reduction among women, effective partnership and tourism transformation in Rwanda, improving potato productivity, among others,” The topics are linked to sustainable development goals, food security and sustainable agriculture, partnership for sustainable development, reducing gender inequality as well as ensuring wellbeing for all at all ages. Scholars committed to increase dissemination, knowledge and ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals, bring extensive research experiences in supporting Rwanda’s development efforts. They recommended that Higher Learning Institution should make necessary investment in research and publication, promote partnership of private HLIs in offering joint programmes and carrying out joint research, among others. Rwandan Organisation of Institutions of Higher Learning comprises nine private universities and institutes. The first colloquium took place in 2004. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Private higher learning institutions urged to work in harmony