Academics call for more research

Researchers in Human and Social Sciences in the country have been urged to always share their findings if they are to develop the two areas.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Chairperson of the National Commission for UNESCO Dr Rose Gasibirege (R) with the Director of Culture in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Straton Nsanzabaganwa (Photo; J. Mbanda)

Researchers in Human and Social Sciences in the country have been urged to always share their findings if they are to develop the two areas.

The call was made yesterday by the Chairperson of the National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Rose Gasibirege, during a one-day conference on the contribution of human and social sciences in sustainable development in Kigali.

She said that there was need to put more effors in research regarding human and social sciences since they have played a significant role in the development of the country in many ways.

Gasibirege, who is also the Vice Rector in charge of academic affairs at Kigali Independent University (ULK), told participants that poverty is a major problem facing Rwandans which needs urgent research on how it can be solved.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at ULK, Dr Venuste Karambizi said that people tend to give first priority to physical sciences compared to social sciences which he said may hinder social development in general if it’s not revised.

Speaking to The New Times, Dr Gasibirege said that the National Commission for UNESCO would gather all research and information on human and social sciences in the country in order to access how the country developed in terms of human and social sciences in the past 16 years after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsis.

The conference attracted participants from the National University of Rwanda, Rwanda Institute of Technological Research, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) and the National Commission for fighting against Genocide. 

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