RDF college curriculum gets international nod

A team of UK defence experts have completed a two weeks tour of duty at Rwanda Military Academy in Nyakinama, where they completed a validation of the curriculum for the RDF Senior Command and Staff College, which will open next month.The team, composed of four defence experts, was from the UK Defence Academy and Kings College London, according to a statement from the military.They included Lt. Col. Jeremy Sharpe from UK Defence Academy, Dr. Andrew Stewert from Kings College London, Commander Chris Taylor, and Aaron Clipps, a librarian.The RDF Senior Command and Staff College is scheduled to open in July.The one year course will be attended by Senior Officers from the rank of Major to Colonel.Officials say 21 senior officers are already at the College for a nine week orientation course which ends on June 22.While paying a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga atthe Defence Hqs, the UK Defence experts expressed their satisfaction that all requirements are in place for the Senior Command and Staff College to commence immediately.“The infrastructure was found to be of international standards, the Directing Staff are in place and the curriculum, both military and academic component with National University of Rwanda will all boost the academic aspirations of RDF,” reads part of the statement.“The CDS thanked the UK Defence experts’ team for the good job, saying it was a clear example of good defence cooperation between the two countries militaries.”RDF has been sending Senior Officers to attend Senior Command and Staff Courses to the region and abroad.There are also plans to upgrade Rwanda Military Academy into a National Defence University in the near future.