Research funding, better conditions for university staff on the mind of Senate hopefuls

Three Senate candidates vying for the seat of the representative of public universities launched their campaign trail at the University of Rwanda's Huye Campus on Thursday, September 5, pledging to help find solutions to issues of inadequate research funding and living conditions of academic staff, among other challenges. Anne Marie Kagwesage, Telesphore Ngarambe, and Evariste Ntakirutimana campaigned in front of the electoral college that consists of academic staff and researchers from public institutions of higher learning based in Southern Province, namely the University of Rwanda (UR) Huye Campus, Rwanda Polytechnic-IPRC Huye, Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) and IPRC Kitabi. ALSO READ: Nyarugenge: Senate candidates pledge to promote jobs for youth, gender equality The three contenders are among 32 candidates vying for 14 elective seats in the Senate, which has 26 seats in total. Senate elections are due on September 16. Kagwesage, 51, who is an Associate Professor of Educational Sciences at UR, pledged to promote impactful research that provides practical solutions to problems in the Rwandan society. “I will advocate for increased research that offers real solutions to societal problems. I will work to enhance the well-being of academic staff while promoting partnerships between higher learning institutions and industries. Together, we can create a system that produces not only educated individuals but innovative problem solvers,” she said. Kagwesage also stressed that universities have a pivotal role in the socio-economic transformation of the country, with regards to development goals such as Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). “I believe that our universities must contribute more significantly to the socio-economic transformation of the country. Through research and collaboration, we will make sure our graduates are ready to meet the needs of a modern economy, Kagwesage said. ALSO READ: Senatorial elections: 32 senate candidates approved She added that the years she has spent in education gave her valuable insights into the strengths and challenges facing academia. “If I am voted as a senator, I will make sure the voices of educators and academic staff are heard in the Senate. We need to advocate for more resources, not just for research but for improving the conditions of teaching staff and students alike,” she explained. Telesphore Ngarambe, 52, Dean of the School of Arts and Languages at UR, who has over 24 years of experience in academia, said his campaign focuses on three key pillars. These are strengthening infrastructure, improving curricula, and building staff capacity through further education and training. “We must invest in infrastructure, not just buildings, but also in technology and updated curricula that match the demands of a modern workforce,” Ngarambe told the members of the electoral college and students at Huye Campus. Ngarambe highlighted that one of the key challenges facing Rwandan universities is the lack of qualified academic staff due to limited opportunities for postgraduate education as it requires higher qualification. ALSO READ: Senate candidates hit the campaign trail ahead of September polls “If I am elected, I will push for the establishment of a dedicated fund for postgraduate studies, Ngarambe said. “Today, we only have funding for undergraduate education. We need to train and develop a pool of highly qualified educators to ensure the future success of our universities,” he explained. In addition to supporting academic staff, Ngarambe said he is a strong proponent of increasing research funding. “Research is critical to development, and we need more funding to support both established and younger researchers. Currently, the government’s research fund is very limited, which hampers our ability to innovate and make meaningful contributions to society,” he said. Ngarambe also underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. “We need to foster collaboration between disciplines. Interdisciplinary research will allow us to solve complex societal problems more effectively,” he said. For 61-year-old Ntakirutimana, who hold PHD in Linguistics, said if he is elected he would also advocate for the improvement of university staff. “Drawing on my experience as a long-time teacher and researcher, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to these responsibilities,” Ntakirutimana who boasts of 30 years of experience in the education sector. Ntakirutimana also highlighted the importance of the Senate's advisory role, particularly in addressing national issues. He pledged to be an advocate for teachers and researchers, focusing on improving teachers' living conditions, enhancing the quality of education, and addressing the challenges related to language proficiency in the education system. “As an advocate for teachers and researchers, I will push for improvements in teachers' conditions, the quality of education, and tackle the issue of language skills in schools,” he said.

News

Research funding, better conditions for university staff on the mind of Senate hopefuls