LATEST NEWS

For the 3^rd consecutive time, the University of Rwanda joined the world to observe the International Day of Mathematics commonly known as Pi-Day (π-day). The event was organized by the College of Science and Technology in collaboration with UR-Sweden Programme, the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and East African Institute for Fundamental Research.  

The event featured mathematics competition for 53 students from different high schools in Kigali and countryside. It also included presentations that aimed to popularize mathematics and hence attract more students in Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics areas. 

The winner of the competition was Honorine Munezero, a high school finalist from Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux. She was awarded with an iPad, $ 200 and got a full scholarship at the University of Rwanda. The 2^nd run up came from Petit Séminaire Ndera and equalled prizes to Honorine. Lycée de Kigali emerged the 3^rd with the winner awarded an Ipad and $ 100. Both Don Bosco – IFAK and Ecole des Sciences Byimana came at 4^th and 5^th respectively with winners pocketing $ 250 each.

Honorine emerged the winner of the competition

Speaking on the occasion, Honorine Munezero, the winner of the competition noted that perseverance was key for her to unlock the secret to success in mathematics. According to her, it is not only about studying and calculating formulas or getting familiar with solving problems; the most important thing is understanding what you want and go for it.

“There is nothing you would lose by trying, you can fail but when you persevere your efforts eventually pay off,” said Munezero adding that the University of Rwanda is life changing to Rwandan and the future generation, thus grateful for full scholarship she got from the University.  

On top of their prizes and in recognition to their hard work, the University of Rwanda offered full scholarships to the first two girls and two boys.

Pi day is one of Mathematics outreach campaigns organized each year. Participants are taken through stimulating lectures and problems solving sessions showing them that mathematics is fundamental for cutting edge technologies.  This is reckoned to be the best way to attract more young and female students to study mathematics who, at some point may proceed for postgraduate studies.

Students who made the top five pose for a group photo

The University of Rwanda Library under the support of UR Sweden Programme acquired 499 titles and 1600 copies of books from the USA. The demand was made based on  the lists of  books  that were selected by  the academic staff  across all  UR nine campuses  which were  submitted  to the office of  the University Librarian.  

The books cover wide range of disciples in UR six colleges.  Some of these include data science, artificial intelligence, Journalism, Conflict resolution, Journalism, Human behaviour, water Engineering forensic drug analysis and many more others.

According to the University Librarian Dr Robinah Namuleme, the acquisition of books will boost the University library’s capacity towards becoming hybrid library with enough books and electronic resources to facilitate a research environment.

“We hope and anticipate that these books will go a long way in supporting new PhD and Masters Programmes as well as Centres of Excellence” said Robinah who also doubles as the team leader of the UR-Sweden Library subprogram.

The UR Sweden Program has been instrumental in helping the library enhance capacity for teaching, learning and research. In additional to books, the UR Sweden Program funded several other projects including the subscription to eResources. Currently, the University library boasts a big number of databases that have been acquired and accessible to all the university library users both on and off campus.

Besides, the UR Sweden Library subprogram has supported capacity building in terms of PhD and Masters training. Recently, the University staff graduated from Sweden in PhD in Library and Information Sciences under the same support. The Program has also made investments in the creation of a research environment through the acquisition of ICT equipment and software which helped to integrate library services and functions and allow seamless access to library resources.

UR Sweden Program has been implemented since 2003. The Program is into its fourth (4) phase which started in 2019. The current phase which is being implemented together with 13 Swedish partner universities has a tally of 14 research training programmes and 5 research support programmes. It targets to enroll 80 PhD candidates who will be trained both at UR and in Swedish varsities on Sandwich mode, 26 postdocs, and more than 240 Masters Students.   

Hon. Dr Emmanuel Havugimana is among PhD graduates under UR-Sweden Programme. He graduated in 2009 from the University of Gothenburg and hence became one of the few PhD holders in Rwanda at the time. In 2019, he was elected Senator in the upper chamber of Rwandan Parliament after 22 years of service at the University of Rwanda.

Prior to his PhD journey, Hon. Havugimana had completed two years for his Master degree in Land Use Planning and Rural Development at Laval University, Quebec in Canada. According to him, the urge to gain new knowledge in Environmental studies triggered his application for PhD scholarship which was offered by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in the former National University of Rwanda.

When Hon. Dr Havugima first arrived in Sweden in October, 2003 he was captivated by how everything was set for his arrival right from accommodation, transportation to office documentation. At the time, Havugimana together with other 5 PhD students occupied a small sized class for compulsory PhD courses; including a team of four Sri Lanka students, and two Swedes.

During his spell in Sweden, Havugimana mostly recalls a surprising but enjoyable friendship with his then supervisor retired Prof Hans Egneus.

“Every time he could come at Landvetter, Gothenburg Airport to wait for me whenever I was arriving from Rwanda” Hon Havugima said, adding that Prof Hans could reach out to him in numerous occasions in Rwanda to assist him during field work and data collection.

Havugimana was the second student to defend his PhD in the first cohort of the University of Rwanda - Sweden Bilateral Research Cooperation which started in 2002. Together with his colleagues at the University of Gothenburg, they had created Gothenburg African Students Association -GASA in 2004 alongside Ugandan, Kenyan, Zimbabwean and Ghanaian PhD students. Despite the fact that being a Senator doesn’t require PhD qualification, Hon. Havugimana believes that his education background will play a major role in his new career.

“I will make significant contribution mainly when it comes to discuss about critical subjects in my area such as climate change, urban planning, environment, and rural development” He concluded.