Tumba College of Technology and its partners have underlined the need to upgrade the college programmes to produce qualified graduates who meet the current standards of advanced technology and can compete ably on the national and international level.

Officials said this on Thursday during a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting which aimed at strengthening the college’s curriculum that attracted local and international experts.

Eng. Pascal Gatabazi, the principal of the college, said such meetings are important because they help them exchange ideas with other experts in IT industry and other domains.

‘‘We get to know what is needed on the labour market which enables us update the various programmes offered at the college.

"Technical institutions offer practical skills that are dynamic in nature. If you do not consult experts from the market, you will certainly produce people who are not desirable in the labour market. We invite experts from various institutions that are potential employers of our students to advise us on what is needed and then we adjust accordingly,” said Gatabazi.

Besides boosting their graduate marketability, Gatabazi said that through the collaboration, the college signed agreements with various companies to, among others, provide technical services to the residents around the school environs as part of community outreach activities.

The college has recently worked with the Rwanda Energy Group to connect over 200 households with solar energy, he said

During the meeting, various departments exhibited their products ranging from renewable energy generation, fiber optic installation and reparation among others.

The experts recommended some changes in some modules in various programmes.

For instance, participants resolved to include Thermodynamics in Fundamentals of Alternative Energy Technologies module and change the sub content in fundamentals of Metal Hybrid Protection (MHP) from ‘power calculation’ to ‘output power equation.’

They also decided to include in the content of "Teaching Software” in design and installation of solar system module.

Participants at the workshop ,said upgrading the curriculum especially for colleges teaching technology, is significant as it helps them cope with the emerging technology.

Seamus McGinley, the General Manager of International Computer Driving License (ICDL-Africa), said colleges teaching technology need to meet with various companies and discuss ways to upgrade their programmes to meet international standards.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw