Forty-three Rwandan students will pursue Master’s and PhD studies in Brazil under a new scholarship programme marking the first academic partnership of its kind between Rwanda and Brazil. The initiative is designed to strengthen professional expertise and support Rwanda’s development agenda through advanced training, knowledge transfer, and skills application upon the scholars’ return.
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Speaking to The New Times, the Director General of the Higher Education Council (HEC), Edward Kadozi, said the first cohort comprises 26 Master’s students and 17 PhD candidates who will pursue postgraduate studies primarily in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
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These include mining, geology, agriculture, engineering, health sciences, environmental sciences, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
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"The fields were deliberately prioritised because many of these programmes are not currently offered in Rwanda at the postgraduate level. Through this partnership with Brazil, we are providing Rwandan professionals with access to specialised knowledge and skills that will help close critical skills gaps while strengthening domestic capacity in strategic sectors,” Kadozi said.
He added that the initiative represents an investment in Rwanda’s human capital by equipping professionals with expertise that will contribute to research, innovation, productivity, and the country’s long-term socio-economic transformation.
Merit-based selection process
According to Kadozi, beneficiaries were selected through a competitive, merit-based process.
The selection considered several factors including the relevance of the proposed field of study to Rwanda’s national development priorities, particularly in STEM disciplines, academic performance, applicants’ current professional roles, alignment between their work and the programmes applied for, employment in higher learning and research institutions, as well as gender balance.
The selected scholars will study at leading public universities in Brazil, with the duration of their studies depending on the specific programme and the academic regulations of their host institutions.
Expectations upon return
HEC expects the scholars to return with specialised knowledge, advanced research capabilities, and international experience that will help address critical skills shortages and strengthen Rwanda’s domestic capacity in priority sectors.
"This initiative reflects HEC’s commitment to developing highly qualified professionals who will strengthen higher education, research, innovation, and other strategic sectors of the economy. Beyond producing graduates, it is an investment in Rwanda’s human capital, boosting domestic capability while supporting the country’s long-term socio-economic transformation,” Kadozi said.
The programme is also expected to strengthen academic collaboration between Rwanda and Brazil through research partnerships, innovation, and knowledge exchange.
Expanding international partnerships
Kadozi noted that the Brazil scholarship programme forms part of HEC’s broader strategy to expand international cooperation in higher education.
HEC currently facilitates several scholarship programmes through bilateral agreements and international partnerships with countries including China, Russia, Hungary, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and members of the Commonwealth, among others.
Beyond bilateral scholarship programmes, HEC is also pursuing direct partnerships with leading universities worldwide. Kadozi cited a recently signed memorandum of understanding with the University of Kent and ongoing discussions with institutions in North America and other regions.
These partnerships are intended not only to provide educational opportunities for Rwandan students but also to promote academic cooperation, research collaboration, knowledge exchange, staff mobility, and institutional capacity building.
More opportunities expected
Plans are underway to increase the number of beneficiaries under existing scholarship arrangements and to introduce additional destination countries in the future.
"HEC is continuously engaging with partner countries and higher education institutions to expand opportunities for Rwandan students. Discussions are underway to increase the number of scholarships available under existing bilateral arrangements while also exploring new partnerships with countries and universities across different regions of the world,” Kadozi said.
"These partnerships are designed to strengthen Rwanda’s domestic capacity through knowledge transfer, collaborative research, academic exchange, and long-term institutional cooperation. Our goal is to ensure that international partnerships not only create more opportunities for Rwandan students but also strengthen our higher education system, enhance research and innovation, and develop the skilled human capital needed to drive Rwanda’s national development.”