The University of Kigali (UoK) has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity Training Centre to address skills gaps in the digital economy and equip students and professionals with practical expertise in emerging technologies.

The centre, established in partnership with Kenya-based CyberPro Global, was unveiled on November 6 at the university's headquarters in Kacyiru, Kigali. It will offer industry-oriented training, practical exercises and professional certification.

Its establishment follows findings from the university's 2025 Labour Market Study, which involved 5,923 participants and identified significant skills gaps in AI, cybersecurity and data-related fields.

According to Wilson Musoni, Dean of the School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) and Centre Lead, 71 per cent of employers reported high demand for skills in these fields, while 90.9 per cent of the university's alumni preferred practical, hands-on learning.

The centre is intended to bridge the gap between employers' skills requirements and graduates' practical capabilities. It will also complement the university's recently introduced Master's programme in Cybersecurity and Bachelor's programme in AI.

Speaking at the launch, Antoine Sebera, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), representing the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, said developing skilled professionals was essential to Rwanda's digital transformation.

"As more of our economy and public services go digital, two areas are becoming central to progress and those are AI and cybersecurity,” he said.

He noted that AI could improve service delivery and productivity, while cybersecurity was essential to protecting the systems and information supporting digital services.

"This is why the launch of this centre is very significant. It gives students, professionals and organisations a place to build practical skills in AI and cybersecurity. And believe me, we need them,” he said.

Sebera urged businesses to support internships, research and practical student projects, while encouraging public institutions to use the centre to strengthen the security of digital services.

He also challenged Rwanda to develop homegrown technological solutions rather than remain dependent on technologies developed elsewhere.

"AI should speak our languages. AI should know how. AI should be designed to our values,” he said.

Four certification pathways offer practical AI training

The centre will offer four certification pathways, targeting beginners, IT practitioners and experienced professionals, according to Musoni.

The programmes combine cybersecurity and AI training, with content ranging from basic digital security and responsible AI use to advanced threat intelligence, digital forensics, machine learning and enterprise AI governance.

The Foundation pathway, leading to the Certificate in Cybersecurity and AI (CCAI), targets beginners, students and graduates. It covers cybersecurity principles, common threats, phishing, malware, privacy, cyber hygiene, network basics, AI concepts, generative AI tools and responsible technology use.

The programme requires completion of Senior Six, ongoing bachelor’s studies or a bachelor’s degree in any field. It costs Rwf200,000 and runs for one month, comprising 80 hours of training.

The Intermediate pathway, leading to the Advanced Certificate in Cybersecurity and AI (ACCAI), targets IT staff, technicians, developers and analysts. Its modules include network security, vulnerability assessment, incident response, ethical hacking, cloud security, machine learning and data analysis.

Applicants must have completed the Foundation certification or be pursuing an ICT or computer science degree at a recognised higher learning institution. The programme costs Rwf600,000 and runs for three months, equivalent to 240 hours.

The Advanced pathway, leading to the Specialist Certificate in Cybersecurity and AI (SCCAI), is designed for experienced professionals, including those working in government, banking, telecommunications and corporate institutions.

It covers penetration testing, digital forensics, threat intelligence, security operations, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision and AI governance.

Applicants must have completed the Intermediate certification and possess at least two years of relevant work experience. The six-month programme comprises 480 hours and costs Rwf1.2 million.

The Professional pathway, leading to the Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity and AI (PCCAI), targets senior specialists, managers and technical leaders.

It focuses on cybersecurity architecture, threat hunting, red and blue team operations, Zero Trust security, enterprise risk management, large language models, machine learning operations and enterprise AI governance.

The programme costs Rwf2.4 million and runs for 12 months, comprising 720 hours.

"Training will combine practical laboratory sessions, industry case studies, hands-on assignments, continuous assessment and final applied projects,” Musoni explained.

The first cohort is scheduled to begin training on November 16, 2026.

Philibert Afrika, Chairman of the Governing Body of the University of Kigali (UoK), said the initiative aligned with the institution’s founding vision of developing programmes that respond to national needs.

He noted that the university had grown from 3,000 students at its establishment 13 years ago to approximately 8,000, while increasingly focusing on professional programmes that equip graduates with workplace-ready skills.

"Whatever programme we put in place, it is responding to the realities of our environment. It is addressing the needs of our country,” Afrika said.

The university said the centre would also provide customised training for government institutions, private companies and NGOs, while supporting applied research involving students, lecturers and industry partners.

A regional ambition

John Mutunga, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CyberPro Global, said the partnership was driven by the need to strengthen Africa's capacity to develop and secure its own technologies.

"The centre was built because Africa is digitising faster than it’s securing itself,” he said.

He challenged African institutions to invest in the expertise and infrastructure needed to develop and protect their own technologies rather than remain consumers of solutions developed elsewhere.

"The question is not whether Africa will use AI. The question is whether Africa will build it, secure it and own it, or simply consume what others make,” he said.

Mutunga said CyberPro Global intended to bring industry expertise and training approaches developed through international collaborations to Rwanda to help build a new generation of African cybersecurity professionals.

George Kimathi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kigali, said the centre had taken nearly a year to establish and was designed to translate academic learning into practical workplace skills.

"We have a very simple purpose, to turn learning into real capability,” he said.

He challenged CyberPro Global to support the transfer of expertise from Nairobi to Kigali, with the ambition of positioning Rwanda as a regional training hub.

"Kigali must become the centre of AI and cybersecurity in Africa,” he said.

Kimathi also disclosed that CyberPro had pledged to expand the centre's capacity from 50 to approximately 200 workstations and equip it as a smart training facility.