The University of Kigali (UoK), through its Centre for Applied Logistics and Supply Chain Management (CALSCM) and Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, successfully hosted a three-day “Train the Trainer” Seminar on Case Study Teaching from November 10–12, 2025. The seminar was conducted by Dr. Benjamin Nitsche, an External Senior Lecturer at the Berlin University of Technology, Germany, in collaboration with Dr. Simon Peter Nadeem from Learn Logistics by Kühne Foundation, Germany.
The Guests were welcomed by University of Kigali Vice Chancellor, Prof George Kimathi, Dr. Ronald Kwena, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Enterprise / Director of CALSCM, Dr Joseph Akumuntu, Programme Leader for Logistics and SCM and Mr Luzinda Umar, The Head of Department – Procurement and Supply Chain Management. The Vice Chancellor noted strides made in building capacity in Logistics and SCM supported by Learn Logistics by Kühne Foundation.
The highly interactive training brought together UoK academic staff, postgraduate facilitators and students with the aim of enhancing pedagogical competence in experiential and case-based learning. Participants were equipped with innovative approaches to integrating industry case studies, simulation tools, and data-driven problem-solving techniques into classroom teaching, ensuring greater alignment between academia and real-world logistics practice.
As part of the seminar, participants undertook field visits to Inyange Industries and AGL Rwanda, two leading players in Rwanda’s logistics and supply chain ecosystem. The visits provided firsthand exposure to operational excellence, value chain integration, and logistics digitalization, offering practical insights into the complexities of supply chain management in the Rwandan context.
The field engagement also reinforced the importance of industry-academic collaboration in developing practical competencies for the next generation of logistics professionals.
This seminar follows a series of specialized lectures and training workshops organized under the partnership between University of Kigali and the Learn Logistics by Kühne Foundation. Earlier this year, UoK hosted Dr. Ullrich Förster, a former high-level logistics executive and expert in Digitalization in Logistics, Sustainability, Decarbonization, and Supply Chain Leadership, who delivered a Guest Lecture on Operational Excellence and Project Management in Logistics.
Dr. Förster was accompanied by Dr. Lester Shawa, Regional Director of Learn Logistics by Kühne Foundation (Southern Africa), who emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to capacity development and applied logistics education across Africa.
The University of Kigali–Kühne Foundation collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, established the Centre for Applied Logistics and Supply Chain Management (CALSCM) at UoK. The Centre serves as a hub for applied research, training, and professional development, supporting Rwanda’s logistics sector in achieving global competitiveness and sustainability.
Speaking during the closing session, Dr. Ronald Kwena, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise and Director of CALSCM, expressed deep appreciation to the Kühne Foundation and the Learn Logistics team for their ongoing support:
“The continued collaboration with Learn Logistics by Kühne Foundation demonstrates a shared commitment to excellence in logistics education and research. These capacity-building initiatives not only strengthen our faculty’s teaching methods but also position UoK as a regional leader in applied logistics and supply chain innovation.”
The seminar marks another milestone in UoK’s journey toward enhancing academic excellence, industry relevance, and sustainable logistics practices in Rwanda and the broader region. Future collaborations will include joint research projects, industry certifications, and student exchange opportunities aimed at deepening practical exposure and advancing the logistics discipline.
The University of Kigali is a leading institution in Rwanda committed to academic excellence, innovation, and community impact. Through its Centre for Applied Logistics and Supply Chain Management, UoK collaborates with international partners to promote research, professional training, and capacity building in logistics, operations, and sustainable development.
