The Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), in Partnership with the National University of Rwanda yesterday launched the Executive Masters in e–Governance.

The programme aims at helping managers, both in local government and international organizations to collaboratively make use of ICTs for innovation, transformative organizational and institutional redesign and empowering governance at all levels.

The programme draws its participants from countries in Africa, Europe and Asia who undertake five modules from different countries and the participants undergo two-week training for each module.

In Rwanda, participants are currently undergoing their second module where they will learn about applying ICTs for Development purposes, as well as in post-conflict situations and they will be using Rwanda as the case study.

According to the Managing Director of the programme, Marianne Tremblay, the participants of the programme have a chance of developing an in-depth understanding of e-Governance and impacts of ICTs on development. 

Speaking to The New Times, the Minister of Education Dr. Charles Murigande said that the introduction of the programme in Rwanda is a sign that the country is being recognized as one of the world’s reformers in technology.

Murigande also highlighted the need for the country to have more professionals on its journey to becoming an ICT hub in the region and encouraged more Rwandans to go for the programme.

"ICT Infrastructure and telecommunications companies are coming up every day and this means that we need to have as many professionals in the field as possible,” he said.

The Rector of UNR, Prof. Silas Rwakabamba, explained that participants had finished their first module in June this year and was optimistic that the programme in Rwanda will equip them with the skills they require in order to participate in their respective countries’ development.

The first module was conducted in Mexico.

Rwanda already has 10 participants who have graduated in the programme while two are currently undergoing training. This makes Rwanda the highest in terms of Alumnae under this programme in the world.

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