President Paul Kagame on Tuesday, January 27, received a delegation from Yonsei University, led by Prof Dong-Sup Yoon, the university’s President, as Rwanda and the Korean institution continue to strengthen cooperation.
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The meeting took place at Village Urugwiro and was also attended by Dr Won-Yong Lee, the university&039;s Executive Vice President for Research Affairs, and other members of the its delegation.
According to Village Urugwiro, discussions focused on "on strengthening Yonsei University’s partnership with Rwanda through academic exchange, research, and capacity building in education.”
The partnership with Yonsei University builds on earlier engagements at the national level. In April 2024, Yonsei signed a general cooperation agreement with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, further formalising academic ties between the two sides.
In June 2024, President Kagame was awarded an honorary doctorate in public policy and management by Yonsei University during a ceremony held in Seoul on the sidelines of the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit. The award recognised his leadership in Rwanda’s transformation and his advocacy for innovation-driven development.
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The engagement also builds on a growing partnership between Yonsei University and the University of Rwanda (UR). In September 2024, UR and Yonsei University signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening academic exchange, advancing research, and promoting innovation.
The MoU, signed by UR Vice Chancellor Prof. Kayihura Muganga Didas and Prof. Yoon on the sidelines of Yonsei University’s 140th Anniversary Conference, prioritises collaboration in medical and health sciences, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
It also provides a framework for joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and shared innovation initiatives.
Founded in 1885, Yonsei University is among South Korea’s most prestigious private universities and hosts 178 research centres.