Dr. Claire Lyngå, First Secretary in charge of Research and Higher Education at the Embassy of Sweden to Rwanda, has commended the progress and impact of the UR-Sweden Programme partnership in advancing research excellence, human capital development and institutional capacity at the UR’s College of Science and Technology (CST).
Dr. Lyngå made the remarks during a visit to CST, where she met the College leadership, led by Principal Prof. Ignace Gatare, alongside PhD students and graduates supported through the UR-Sweden Programme and members of the Programme Coordination Team. The visit provided an opportunity to assess the partnership’s achievements, engage with researchers and explore ways to strengthen its impact and long-term sustainability.
During the engagement, Dr. Lyngå recognised the milestones achieved across the five research subprogrammes hosted at CST, particularly in developing highly skilled human resources and strengthening research capacity. She reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to supporting initiatives that generate meaningful research outcomes and contribute to sustainable development.
During her visit to CST, Dr. Claire Lyngå commended the progress and impact of the UR-Sweden Programme partnership in advancing research excellence, developing human capital, and strengthening institutional capacity
Principal Prof. Ignace Gatare highlighted CST’s strategic role in advancing science, technology and innovation in Rwanda. He noted that the College serves as a key hub for developing scientific and technological expertise, offering a wide range of programmes across five schools and 17 departments. These include 25 postgraduate and 30 undergraduate programmes.
He also highlighted the College’s commitment to responding to emerging national priorities, including the energy sector, through the introduction of a Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Science. The programme is expected to contribute to building the specialised knowledge and skills required to advance nuclear science and its applications in Rwanda.
The visit also featured presentations by team leaders of the five UR-Sweden Programme research subprogrammes at CST: Applied Mathematics, Sustainable Energy, Bioenergy and Waste Management, Water Resources, and Digital Health. The presentations showcased progress, research achievements, ongoing activities and challenges, demonstrating how the partnership continues to strengthen the College’s research and postgraduate training capacity.
Brigitte Mukarunyana (L), a recent PhD graduate of Umeå University under the UR-Sweden Programme partnership, shares her academic journey and research experience
Through these subprogrammes, 16 PhD candidates have graduated, while 14 others are pursuing their doctoral studies, with graduation expected in the coming time. In addition, more than 100 candidates have graduated with master's degrees, representing a significant contribution to the development of Rwanda’s highly skilled workforce.
Beyond postgraduate training, the partnership has helped research teams establish wider academic and institutional networks, opening opportunities to secure additional research grants and collaborate on addressing pressing societal challenges. These collaborations have enabled researchers to generate knowledge, develop practical solutions and contribute to communities through research-driven interventions.