The Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER) on July 29, hosted a retreat for its governing council and new members of its standing committees to discuss and reflect on their duties and responsibilities and how they can push forward the body.

According to Eng. Gentil Kangaho, the Chairman of IER, bringing together members of the new elected committees was a good opportunity for them to be briefed on what is expected from them within a three years’ mandate.

He is aware that both the governing council and the standing committees have something to do with leadership and governance – a reason why they also invited an experienced leadership coach to talk to them, helping them to better understand how they can go about their responsibilities.

Mireille Karera, the Lead Coach at Kora Coach, a company , gave a presentation about building sustainable IER during the retreat.

He added: "We are going to have even much more time for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses to make our members’ performances much better.”

Talking about the gaps in the law that governs the institution in terms of regulation and enforcement, he said they are going to make suggestions regarding what they think can be in it and approach concerned authorities for improvement.

Charles Kalinda, Head of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure said they’ve noticed the gaps and now know what they need to work on including revising the law.

Talking about its enforcement, he said they need to establish the one that gives IER more strength so that every engineer in the country can get registered to be able to practice any engineering job.

He noted that every year, they also work with the institution to train engineers through CPDs, taking them through professional courses so that they can leverage their knowledge and skills.

Attendees of the retreat interact during a break. they were discussing on what is expected from them within a three years’ mandate.

During the retreat, Mireille Karera, The Lead Coach at Kora Coach, a company she founded, gave a presentation about building sustainable IER, tackling the role of its governing council and standing committees.

She urged attendees to understand the role they can play as engineers to build a better future as well as the skills they need to achieve that.

She also asked the attendees to rate themselves on a scale of 10 their legal and regulatory models, how they understand their role as directors, their committee competencies as well as their leadership styles.

Other factors include compliance governance, understanding company accounts, balancing executive and non-executive duties, financial reporting, risk management as well as mentoring and networking.

IER was established as a Professional Regulatory Body in 2012, with a mandate of regulating and guiding the activities of all those practising engineering profession in Rwanda.

IER was established as a Professional Regulatory Body in 2012, with a mandate of regulating and guiding the activities of all those practising engineering profession in Rwanda to ensure that engineering services they deliver are in compliance with established engineering standards of service delivery and best practices.

IER’s membership consists of around 2800 members including engineers, technologists and technicians, according to its Registrar, Eng. Alexis Dushimire Hategekimana.

He said that it helps them secure markets in Rwanda and in the region, adding that the institution signed a mutual recognition agreement with other professional bodies in the East African Community to allow its members work from any member country of the community.

Apart from that, they also provide medical coverage to members, among other things, because, according to Hategekimana, IER’s mandate is to not only regulate but also improve welfare of members.

He also noted that since its establishment, the institution has been raising awareness so that engineering practitioners can join it and acquire a licence that allows them to practice in Rwanda.

Members of the new elected committees in a group photo during the retreat. / Photo by Dan Kwizera

Participants follow a presentation during a retreat on July 29.