University of Rwanda, on April 5, launched new Masters and PhD programmes in Biotechnology to ensure sustainable local production and improved access to quality assured vaccines, medicines and health technologies.

The new programmes follow Rwanda’s vision to become a regional hub for next-generation biomanufacturing.

It is supported by Team Europe’s initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (MAV+) under the EU Global Gateway strategy.

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As part of it, 25 students (medical doctors, biologists, pharmacists) will be recruited for the Masters programme each intake, aiming to train 100 skilled Masters graduates in four years.

Five PhD candidates will also be supported while lecturers from European countries will provide distance and onsite training, with a common core in the first year and internship training and research responding to local health needs in the second year.

Speaking during the launch Dr Yvan Butera, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health said the programme will serve as backbone support for the Government of Rwanda&039;s strategic initiative to establish a biomanufacturing plant to supply the country and continent.

He noted that the skills delivered through the course will have a growing impact on climate change and climate-resilient agriculture.

"All the programs that students will learn are designed to address the needs of our country, the continent, and global issues.,” he continued. "This key program fits perfectly into the puzzle we are completing to meet global demands."

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In its agenda of Vision 2050, the Government of Rwanda set a pathway that seeks to have the country becoming an upper middle-income country by 2035 and high-income country by 2050.

Rwanda is hence targeting to develop high-growth knowledge-driven sectors which can enable the envisioned rapid social economic transformation, while providing the necessary conditions to build required industrial research and development (R&D) capability, including a competent workforce.

According to Didas Muganga Kayihura, the Vice Chancellor of UR, the milestone achieved by the university is commendable for Rwanda given that the university has been teaching students at the undergraduate level for 20 years, providing them with a solid foundation of basic knowledge.

He said that in order to conduct research and pursue advanced careers, students need to acquire advanced knowledge, which can be attained by enrolling in master's programs and then a PhD program the university is planning to launch in two years' time.

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The programmes are supported through the Kwigira programme of the European Union in Rwanda and Enabel, the Belgian development agency, and will be implemented in partnership with different European universities as well as other global academic and research networks.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Rwanda, Belén Calvo Uyarra, said that the launched programmes bring together the expertise of EU member states’ universities to train the future Rwandan workforce on academic and industrial aspects of biotechnology, vaccine development and manufacturing.

"It is also another important milestone displaying the EU&039;s full commitment to boost local manufacturing capacities in Africa and strengthen pharmaceutical systems and health equity,” she added.

"The first seed of cooperation between Belgian universities and the University of Rwanda was planted 5 years ago with Belgian development funding. Other universities from France and Cameroon have joined the initiative and the EU stepped in with additional funding to turn this into a full-fledged educational program. The students going through this program will become the human capital required to turn Rwanda into a biotech pioneer on the continent,” he added.