Rwanda, Canadian university sign deal to expand study, research opportunities

The Rwandan government and Canadia's Concordia University of Edmonton have signed an agreement that could open more opportunities for Rwandan students to study in North America while expanding cooperation in research, innovation and skills development. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Canada, Prosper Higiro, and Dr Tim Loreman, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), during Higiro’s visit to Alberta from August 21-23. ALSO READ: Concordia University of Edmonton partners with UoK to empower Rwanda’s future cybersecurity leaders The agreement announced by Rwanda’s High Commission in Canada on Tuesday provides a framework for qualified Rwandan students to pursue studies at CUE, while the two pasties will explore scholarship and tuition-support arrangements. The High Commission said the agreement also provides for executive training, academic and staff exchanges, joint research and other forms of collaboration in various areas. These include education, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence, health sciences, sustainability, leadership and innovation, economics and statistics. ALSO READ: New Institute of Computing to train next generation of tech leaders The agreement builds on an existing relationship between Rwanda and CUE, which has already produced opportunities for Rwandan students in cybersecurity. In 2025, the University of Kigali (UoK) was selected as the exclusive Rwandan beneficiary of the Canadian International Development Scholarship (BCDI 2030), a programme hosted by CUE. Under the programme, six UoK students are expected to receive fully funded scholarships to pursue master's degrees in information security systems management and information security and assurance management between 2025 and 2029. The new agreement broadens the potential areas of cooperation beyond cybersecurity, bringing disciplines such as artificial intelligence, health sciences, sustainability, economics and statistics into the framework. CUE, based in Edmonton, Alberta, is an independent Canadian university offering undergraduate and graduate programmes in fields including arts, science, management, education, public health and information technology. The university has also developed research activities in areas including artificial intelligence, health sciences and environmental sustainability.

News

Rwanda, Canadian university sign deal to expand study, research opportunities