NUR gets $7.8m for research and capacity building

The Swedish government, together with the Ministry of Finance and the National University of Rwanda (NUR), yesterday signed a $7.8m financial support agreement to support research and capacity building at the institution. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Finance, John Rwangombwa, welcomed the support and said that the money is part of a long term research cooperation programme for the period 2010-2014. “This is in line with our long term vision of building a knowledge-based economy that has a skilled workforce that can compete in this ever changing globalised world,” he said. He added that, the support by the Swedish government will be channelled towards institutional strengthening of the domestic research capacity, which has, in the past, included PhD support of lecturers, several masters’ programmes and expansion of ICT at the university. The country representative of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Richard Bomboma, said that the support to Rwanda is mainly aimed at having greater research expertise, as well as efficiency and quality in research management at NUR. “I am glad to announce that Sweden is the most important external contributor to NUR. The particularity of the support is in collaboration with five Swedish academic institutions, facilitating PhD and Masters training through collaboration between researchers from Rwanda and Sweden,” said Bomboma. Under the Swedish support, 120 scientific publications were produced at NUR. The university was ranked the 28th best university in Africa during the 2009/10 ranking. The Swedish support benefited 15 PhD graduates at NUR three of whom have already presented their theses. To allow the Rwandan PhD graduates pursue their research when they return to NUR, Sweden has contributed to establishment of a research fund managed by NUR. 52 research grants were awarded between 2007 and 2010,” Bomboma added. Since 2002, Sweden has supported the development and strengthening of national research capacity through institutional support to NUR. SIDA provides support in areas of education, justice and social protection, environment and rural development, among others. Ends