Rwanda set for ‘One University’ after MPs certify Bill seeking merger

MPs have endorsed a bill that seeks to have some 10 universities in the country merged to form one institution of higher learning. The Senate is now expected to give its approval on the institution set to be called the University of Rwanda in the next few days. Presenting a pertinent report prior to the debate, MP Agnès Mukazibera, Chairperson of the standing Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth, told Parliament that, the law will ease the implementation of the new project. The University of Rwanda, she said, would have legal personality, administrative, teaching, research and financial autonomy and will be run in accordance with the law governing the organisation and functioning of higher education. The Minister for Education, Dr Vicent Biruta, told MPs that the university would, among others, have autonomy to carry out academic research under guidelines set by other higher institutions such as the Higher Education Council (HEC), whose Bill lawmakers had just passed as well. Dr Biruta said, “With respect to matters of research, the higher council of education is concerned with matters of enhancing quality education and research in the higher learning institutions and improving the structures, organisation and functioning of institutions of higher learning.” He added that for autonomy in teaching and research, the university, basing on the guidelines in place will have autonomy to conduct research in particular areas. “It can publish its findings without seeking permission from the higher council of education,” he said. How it will work The Bill allows the university-t0-be to develop high education quality and innovative teaching and research for addressing the problems of the population, the students, the nation, the region and globally. Article 6 says the university’s main responsibilities will include preparing and offering high-level courses to award undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees in various fields of science and technology; to aid by research and other means the advancement of knowledge and its practical application; and to participate in the discovery, transmission and preservation of knowledge and to stimulate the intellectual and cultural development of Rwanda. It will also cooperate and collaborate with other national, regional and international higher learning institutions. The ‘one university’ project could be fully operational starting with the next academic year which starts in September. The lack of an enabling law had been a major obstacle to harmonising higher learning institutions as part of government efforts to improve the quality of education, according to Dr Biruta. It will enable universities to pool their often scanty resources. In practice, the integration process could take up to two years and the task force set up to fast track the establishment of the university is working to ensure that the project becomes operational at least in the next two or three months. The university will have six specialised colleges; for Education, Science and Technology, Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Economics, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, and that of Health Sciences. Each college might have an affiliated institute that the college shall supervise regarding academic affairs. And each college will be headed by a Principal appointed by a Presidential Order and a Presidential Order may determine other colleges. Dr Biruta earlier told the Chamber of Deputies’ standing committee on budget and national patrimony that his ministry had met top Rectors on the task force to examine the rationalisation of academic programmes and merging of various institutions. Management organs At the time, he noted, a structure was in place and it was estimated that during its first year of operation, about Rwf200 million would be required. This amount would reduce after the merger “because aspects of duplication will have been removed.” The university shall comprise the following four management organs: the Chancellor; the Board of Directors; the Senior Management; and the Academic senate. The university will draw resources from sources such as: State budget allocations; Government or partners’ grants; income from its services; income from its investments; interests from its property; donations and bequests; and property of merged institutions. Institutions to be merged are: the National University of Rwanda, Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management, Kigali Institute of Education, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, School of Finance and Banking, “Umutara Polytechnic” Higher Institute, and Kigali Health Institute. Transitional period The University of Rwanda will be given a period not exceeding two years from the date this law is published in the Official Gazette, to merge the activities formerly performed by the affected institutions.