Staff and Student Exchange between University of Kigali and North West University
Our University proudly hosted a successful Staff and Student Exchange Program with North West University (NWU) in October 2024. This exchange provided an enriching platform for academic collaboration, leadership development, and the exploration of best practices in student life, community engagement, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
The NWU delegation, consisting of 11 visiting staff members and student leaders, engaged with UoK Executive team, administrators, and student leaders over three days of dynamic discussions, presentations, cultural exchanges, and a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The visit aimed to promote mutual learning and lay the foundation for future collaborations between the two institutions.
Program Highlights:
Day 1 kicked off with a campus tour, followed by a meeting with our Vice-Chancellor. Presentations on UoK’s history, achievements, and student/staff exchange programs were led by Director of International Affairs and Partnerships. The Deputy Vice-Chancellors elaborated on UoK’s sustainability initiatives, community engagement efforts, and the university’s approach to promoting good citizenship in Rwanda. The Director of Research and innovation discussed our joint research initiatives and innovation hubs. The day was concluded with a presentation from the Resource mobilization manager who discussed the entrepreneurship initiatives and our resources management systems.
Day 2 centered on student leadership, featuring discussions led by the Dean of Students and student leaders, covering student life, leadership structures, and residence management. The NWU team presented on their history, student enrollment, the Student Leadership Academy, entrepreneurship programs, and sustainability initiatives. The day ended with a round table discussion exploring collaborative opportunities. Key takeaways included the COIL program, integrating sustainability into the curriculum, PhD scholarship offers, and the development of an enterprise platform.
Day 3 the delegation took a deeply impactful heritage tour to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where the delegation learned about Rwanda’s history, and the country’s incredible journey toward reconciliation and unity. This visit provided invaluable insights into the concept of good citizenship as practiced in Rwanda, which NWU had identified as an area of interest.
This exchange reflects UoK’s commitment to promoting global partnerships. It provides its students and staff with opportunities for growth and learning beyond borders, with the objective of driving innovation, sustainability, and leadership development at both institutions.
For more information on our international partnerships, visit or contact us at https://uok.ac.rw/our-strategic-partnerships/.
