UR hosted a farewell gala in honor of three departing diplomats from the Embassy of Sweden in Rwanda in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the UR–Sweden Program, a long-standing bilateral research collaboration between Rwanda and Sweden implemented through the University of Rwanda.
Martina Fors Mohlin, Head of Development Cooperation, Katarina Westman, and Raquel Baez concluded their service at the Embassy after years of supporting the partnership. During the ceremony, they were celebrated for their instrumental role in strengthening research, postgraduate training, institutional capacity building, and academic collaboration between the two countries.
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kayihura M. Didas expressed his gratitude to the outgoing diplomats for their unwavering commitment to the Program, noting that their dedication has enabled the partnership to achieve remarkable milestones.
"To date, no other academic and research partnership has delivered such tangible institutional and individual impact as the UR–Sweden Program," said Prof. Kayihura.
In her remarks, Martina Fors Mohlin reflected on her four-year tenure in Rwanda, describing research collaboration as one of the defining highlights of her service. She praised the resilience demonstrated by Rwanda and the University of Rwanda in sustaining the partnership despite global challenges, including funding pressures that affected higher education and international development programs.
She also recalled the memorable celebration of the Program's 20th anniversary, noting the enthusiasm and strong sense of ownership demonstrated by all stakeholders.
"Our collaboration has always been characterized by professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to advancing the Program," she said.
Senior Research Coordinator of the UR–Sweden Program, Prof. Etienne Ruvebana, said the Program's achievements are a testament to the collective commitment of all partners. He noted that surpassing 100 PhD graduates reflects the success of the collaboration and the strong team spirit that has sustained it over the years.
He called for continued collaboration at both institutional and individual levels to safeguard the Program's achievements and ensure their long-term sustainability.
Over the past two decades, the UR–Sweden Program has become the University's flagship research partnership. To date, it has supported 109 PhD graduates and 50 ongoing PhD students, while funding more than 200 research and innovation grants. The Program has also made significant investments in research infrastructure, including ICT and library resources, and has strengthened institutional capacity across the University.
Beyond supporting PhD training through the sandwich model with Swedish partner universities, the collaboration has enabled the establishment of five PhD programmes at the University of Rwanda, contributing to the University's long-term goal of developing sustainable local postgraduate training and research capacity.