The third cohort of the EF Education First Programme has graduated close to 1000 service providers and entrepreneurs in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The graduation, which took place on September 30, was a one-year English language and service skills training program.

Organised by EF Education First in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Mastercard Foundation, the program also focuses on English proficiency and communication skills, which have been identified as a critical challenge for the industry.

The program equips the trainees with communication skills and knowledge to grow their profession to international standards.

It is therefore set to also boost essential hospitality skills, including knowledge about the richness of Rwanda as a premier tourism destination and a focus on how to offer world-class service during events and conferences.

Diane Cyuzuzo, founder of AFRIDUINO and one of the graduates, said that the programme has helped her build her confidence and equipped her with communication skills, which she says come in handy with her day-to-day work where she’s required to chat with many clients and investors.

AFRIDUINO is a company that uses smarthome technologies to transform Rwandan cultural tools and secure them a spot in the future of IoT devices.

"We have learnt project management, business communication skills, and connecting with different people,” she added.

Mark Harerimana, a restaurant manager in Rusizi district and another of the graduates, said that he has learnt a lot from the training in terms of communication, which he believes is going to improve his daily work.

He added that since tourism is key to the economy, such training is important to players in the industry.

The Country Head of MasterCard Foundation, Rica Rwigamba, commended the resilience of the students graduating in this year's cohort, reminding them of the opportunities they have unlocked by learning a new language.

Emmanuel Nsabimana, Head of Tourism Regulation at RDB, highlighted the role of communication in the tourism and hospitality industry.

He encouraged graduates to use the skills acquired throughout the one-year programme to contribute to the growth of the sector.

Oriane Ruzibiza, the Country Director of EF Education First, said that they are trying to give English proficiency and communication skills to boost Rwanda’s tourism and hospitality industry through English communication skills and training.

She added that this big number of graduates means a lot, "Online programmes have a higher dropout since they require resilience, and this says a lot about who they are since they managed to complete the program.”

"We are looking forward to seeing them grow in their careers since 40 per cent of the graduates get promotions or increase in salaries. The program doesn’t only target people in the hospitality and tourism industry, we also train people from the public and private sector,” she said.