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In line with the existing support in research capacity building to the University of Rwanda, Dr Emilia Molnar from the Embassy of Sweden in Rwanda conducted a one day visit to Huye Campus in the Southern part of the Country. The visit aimed to witness supported infrastructure and to hold a brief chat with Huye Campus senior staff in a bid to hear their views and perception towards the UR-Sweden Programme support.

Part of her mandate, Emilia who is the Senior Programme Manager for Research and Higher Education at Swedish Embassy, has responsibility to oversee the activities of UR-Sweden Programme for Research, Higher Education and Institutional Advancement. In her tour, she visited a university owned marshland known as Rwasave which accommodates hundreds of fish ponds and other farm animals.

Dr Emilia (2nd right) at Rwasave marshland

Located approximately 2 kilometers away from the Campus, the site assists students and other researchers interested in animal production to put into practice theoretical knowledge acquired and do research so as to increase fish productivity and proliferation. It includes among others a training room, an office, small fish breeding tanks and laboratories for experiments with equipment like water sensors and others to measure the conductivity and concentration of salt in soil and water. 

Dr Emilia in laboratory with Dr Simon

Alongside the University Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research, they visited the Biotechnology complex which quarters science laboratories including but not limited to Pharmacy lab, Soil and Agriculture lab and Drug Quality Control lab. The laboratories generally help to bring together knowledge from various researchers in health and agriculture sectors in the quest to improve wealth and health of people of Rwanda and beyond while providing trainings and other supports to the community.

The delegation also visited the country biggest and long-standing library as well as the ICT Centre which is labelled to be the hub of ICT systems of the entire University.

Laboratory equipment in Biotechnology complex

In the course of the tour, Emilia held a brief meeting with the campus senior staff with a view to hear their take on UR-Sweden Programme. Managers attested individual and collective impact made by the Programme in various ways especially with regard to research capacity building through various training, workshop as well as infrastructure development. They also called on the Programme to extend their support to other areas that were not covered including some schools of nursing which were recently affiliated to the University and therefore need to adapt to research culture.

Interventions by Huye Campus senior staff

Emilia appreciated interventions by Campus senior staff and pointed out that the Programme support is always aligned to the needs of the University in terms of capacity building. Besides, she noted that the Programme looks into other areas that should be strengthened to advance the research capacity in line with the country development needs and Sustainable Development Goals. She then encouraged them to develop through established research clusters solid and relevant letters of intent for the upcoming funding phase so that the best can be selected for support.

Remarks by Emilia during the meeting with Campus managers

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The delegation was hosted by Dr Jeanne CMHS Principal

Biotechnology complex

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By  Darius Murangwa
Communications Officer
 

Under the patronage of UR-Sweden Program, researchers from different University of Rwanda colleges were grouped into research team which are led by team leaders dubbed “Cluster Champions”.  Ten research clusters have been formed and are poised to make joint research with universities in Sweden.   

In his remarks during the meeting that brought together all UR cluster champions, Dr Charles Murigande elucidated the rationale behind the formation of cluster champions. He noted that one of the motives behind the new move is to uphold the culture of interdisciplinary research approach which is key to deal with the complexity of developmental challenges.

The meeting was presided over by Dr Charles Murigande

According to Murigande, cluster champions will partner with their counterparts in Sweden based on exchange of research proposals and research questions that they will mutually explore to find common solutions. Apart from hard core research in some of the crosscutting areas, various activities have been envisaged including training for staff capacity building.

“The new trend will trigger joint efforts from various groups of people in different area of specialization with determination to work together in a bid to make impactful research for the benefits of the community” said Murigande; the University of Rwanda Deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ndikumana Raymond, the Overall Coordinator of UR-Sweden Program for Research, Higher Education and Institutional Advancement asked the newly selected cluster champions to tap into the project’s achievements in terms of research and keep the momentum going. He also encouraged them to develop sound and competitive proposals which depict the real problems that the community is facing. Ndikumana further took the cluster champions through different stages of research proposals in conformity with international research standards.

Mr Raymond sharing his thoughts during the meeting with cluster champions

On top of working with Swedish and regional varsities, cluster champions were urged to involve national institutions in designing staff capacity building programmes by focusing on questions that are relevant to both UR and those institutions and to the country at large.

Among the ten research clusters include Agricultural transformation and food security, Social economic transformation and sustainable development, Inclusive Governance, peace and security Health and wellbeing for all, Transport and logistics  to mention but a few.

Interventions by Cluster champions during the meeting

Each University College was represented

By  Darius Murangwa
Communications Officer
 

A discussion meeting was organized by UR-Sweden Program for Research, Higher Education and Institutional Advancement. Bringing together Program Team Leaders, Program Coordinator and the University DVC for Institutional Advancement, the meeting aimed at assessing and evaluating the execution of planned activities as the Program is moving closer to the end of its 2016/2017 budget year.

Speaking during the meeting Mr Raymond Ndikumana, the Overall Program Coordinator encouraged Sub-Program Team Leaders to have in mind the Program impact in terms of its contribution to the community and the country in general. According to him, Planning and Execution should always be intertwined to ease self-assessment and performance evaluation of each and every subprogram.

Meeting address; Mr Ndikumana the Program Overall Coordinator

“We have a huge role to play by doubling our effort to ensure that we improve on our responsibilities which will lead to the success of the program” adding that team leaders need to be proactive to enable the program plays its role to influence the future development of research in Rwanda.

For the Program to efficiently deliver on its mandate, Ndikumana called for the alignment of Program activities with the plan of the University in conformity with the existing regulations and guidelines.

In his remarks, Dr Charles Murigande the DVC for Institutional Advancement who oversees the Program at the University level pledged his support by putting close attention to its activities and make sure that it is moving towards the right direction.

Intervention by Dr Murigande along with Dr Bengt-Ove

Among the Sub-Program Team leaders in attendance was Dr Robinah Namuleme for UR-Sweden Library Subprogram. she took pride in the infrastructure backbone that the sub-program has put in place for the University including the working website with a vibrant repository, advanced training course on e-resources and reference management to mention but a few.

Dr Robinah (right) Team Leader UR-Sweden Library Subprogram

“Among our achievements, we have created a repository which enables researchers to showcase their research works and one website for the entire university which serves to market the available resources and services” She said. She added that they will soon present a paper in the World Congress of Libraries in Poland and Rwanda will be the only African country.

In the Course of the meeting, participants agreed on some principles, working modalities and mechanisms that will streamline the Program operations. They also shared some achieved goals like supervision of PhD students, facilitation of research presentation and grants while discussing infrastructure and systems put in place to advance the University and other interventions including trainings that are geared towards staff capacity building.

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A section of Team Leaders during the meeting

By Darius Murangwa
Communications Officer