University of Kigali’s Graduate School and Teamflow GmbH a German-based institution have agreed to extend an existing partnership to offer the SCRUM MASTER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME, a Project Management Certification to the University’s Masters Students. The agreement was made on February 11, 2022, at a meeting held by both parties at University of Kigali. Discussions also focused on the possibility of creating a Software Development Hub at the University of Kigali, championed by Teamflow GmbH.
Mr. Gereon Hermkes, an Agile Business Coach and Trainer, reiterated during his visit to University of Kigali that “UoK is the only University in Rwanda we are partnering with to offer the globally-sought-after training,” and added that “I made the decision to visit today because UoK is the first University in Africa to partner with us since 2021”. This partnership makes the Masters students at the University of Kigali Graduate school part of the flagship Scrum Training and Certification in Rwanda.
Speaking about the partnership, Dr. Kwena Ronald, Dean of UoK’s Graduate School expressed his excitement about the extended partnership “we are very excited to be hosting a third cohort of the Scrum Training between April 2nd and 3rd 2022.” Scrum, a modern Project Management Framework is used daily by more than 10 million people across the globe. This training will therefore provide endless opportunities for University of Kigali Masters students in their respective career fields. The World Economic Forum (WEC) counts the role of Scrum Master among the most promising of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (https://www.scruminc.com/world-economic-forum-forsees-growing-demand-for-scrum-related-jobs/).
He added that “Teamflow GmbH already conducted training for more than 20 students in two cohorts in 2021.The training took place online in two batches. Students were able to gain life-changing knowledge and experience on how Scrum methodology enables companies improve productivity and efficiency in their processes. Some benefits of the Scrum certification are that it is a highly-regarded industry-recognized credential; it sets students apart as leaders with proven expertise; it is the most popular Agile Framework in use; it enables students to stay relevant in today’s job market; it spearheads increased productivity and deliverables; it improves team management and collaborations; it cultivates a healthier work environment.”
Of high interest were students in the Master of Science in Project Management Programme.
Sharing experiences about the training, Janviere Wihogora, an MBA Project Management student testified “I am so grateful for the opportunity UoK’s Graduate School gave me to complement my Master’s Degree with a Scrum Certification. I am so grateful to Dr. Kwena, The Dean of the Graduate school for organizing this life-changing training”.
Vincent Havugimana, an MSc. Project Management Student adds “the University of Kigali Graduate School’s aim is not only to provide knowledge to its students but also add value by providing global opportunities to them.”
The Scrum Training was not only attended by Project Management students but also other Masters students in fields such as Economics, Accounting & Finance, Supply Chain Management as well as Public Administration.
At the meeting with Mr. Gereon Herkes, Dr. Kwena emphasized that “the UoK Graduate School is committed to enhancing the abilities of its students through academic and professional training”.
The Dean of UoK’s Graduate School further hinted that the School is in the process of collaborating with professional bodies to ensure its students get certification at discounted rates. “The Scrum Master Certification will enable students to plan better and deliver results. In simple terms, the students will be able to get tasks done and just like the first two cohorts, the training for the third cohort which is targeting 20 students will be free of charge”, Mr. Gereon Hermkes also added. A token of appreciation was presented to Mr. Gereon Hermkes by Dr. Kwena and Ms. Gifty Aduamah – Director of Marketing & Institutional Advancement at UoK.