321 students graduated yesterday at Byumba Polytechnic Institute (IPB) from the Faculty of Social Sciences Management and Development studies.Forty three attained Bachelor’s degrees.Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Education, and the Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Biruta, encouraged the graduates to exhibit professionalism on the labour market. “Utilising the knowledge you have acquired in enhancing transformation is the fundamental key to success, and it shows that you will be good ambassadors of the institution,” he said.Biruta disclosed that his Ministry intends to facilitate students from private institutions of higher learning to undertake internship programmes aimed at enabling them acquire practical skills.IPB is a community institution supported by both Byumba Catholic and Anglican Church Dioceses, and was registered by the Ministry of Education as an institution of higher learning in 2004 but got a permanent operating license last year. The rector, Prof. Faustin Nyombayire, hailed the students who have worked with the lecturers to develop standards of education at the institute.“We are striving to raise the institute to international standards, so foreign students will also be interested to pursue their education here,” he said.He disclosed that preparations are in advanced stages to establish agriculture and environmental protection laboratories in order to avail technical skills.Claude Nshirimpumu, one of the graduates, said he was overwhelmed with joy because all the invested efforts have finally seen him complete his education.
