UoK Explores PhD Partnerships in UK Visit: Two senior academic leaders from the University of Kigali (UoK) recently concluded a high-level benchmarking mission to the United Kingdom, aimed at enhancing postgraduate research and academic-industry collaboration. Sponsored by Learn Logistics under the Kühne Foundation, the visit focused on exploring collaborative doctoral training, innovative research practices, and strategic partnerships with the University of Derby and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).
Dr. Ronald Kwena, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, led the visit alongside Dr. Joseph Akumuntu, Faculty Member in Supply Chain Management and Internship Coordinator.
Strengthening Doctoral Education and Research at UoK
The mission’s core objective was to benchmark internationally acclaimed PhD and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs in Supply Chain Management. Discussions also included research supervision models, doctoral research support systems, and knowledge transfer partnerships to inform the design of UoK’s own doctoral framework.
“This visit was a strategic step towards positioning the University of Kigali as a regional leader in doctoral education, applied research, and innovation,” said Dr. Kwena. “We were particularly keen on exploring models that merge academic rigour with industry relevance.”
Engagements at the University of Derby
The University of Derby hosted the UoK delegation with a comprehensive program of academic meetings and site tours. Key engagements included:
- A tour of the Doctoral College, Centre for Supply Chain Improvement, Finance Lab (equipped with Bloomberg and LSEG licenses), and various student support facilities.
- Meetings with academic leaders including Dr. Nicola Lynch, Head of Derby Business School; Prof. Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes, Head of Research and the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement; and Dr. Polina Baranova, DBA Programme Leader.
Highlights included discussions on the structure of PhD by research, PhD by published works, and the blended delivery of a joint PhD programme between UoK and Derby. The partners explored two potential models: a UoK-accredited PhD with academic support from Derby, and a University of Derby PhD delivered through UoK, subject to local and UK accreditation.
Focus on Strategic Research, Ethics, and Global Engagement
The delegation engaged with Prof. Qile He and Dr. Phil Jones on research ethics, exploring Derby’s digital research management system and the role of its Research Ethics Committee.
They also met with Dr. Myra Conway, Associate Provost for Innovation and Research, and Rose Martin, Research Student Office Team Leader. These sessions provided insights into Derby’s research strategy, which prioritizes interdisciplinary research across themes such as zero carbon, data science, and public services. UoK intends to adopt similar strategies in alignment with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Martina Williams, Global Engagement Manager, emphasized the university’s growing partnerships in Africa and outlined the roadmap for co-developing a joint PhD program—including lecturer accreditation, shared digital resources, student/staff mobility, and potential for external funding.
Applied Learning through the DBA Programme
The visit also unpacked Derby’s DBA in Supply Chain Management, led by Dr. Baranova. The program blends professional practice with academic research and includes taught modules that build research capacity in real-world settings. UoK is now evaluating this model as it expands its postgraduate offerings to meet the needs of professionals across East Africa.
UoK Explores PhD Partnerships in UK Visit: A Forward-Looking Partnership
The benchmarking visit signals a major milestone for UoK as it advances its vision of becoming a hub of excellence in logistics, supply chain, and applied research in Africa. Key next steps include:
- Developing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Derby;
- Designing a joint doctoral supervision framework;
- Enhancing UoK’s research infrastructure, including doctoral colleges and simulation labs;
- Participating in international journal editorship and conferences through networks such as the IEOM Society.
“The insights gained from this mission will directly inform our efforts to internationalize our doctoral programs, boost innovation, and strengthen industry-academic linkages,” Dr. Akumuntu noted.
