More than 300 students from the University of Rwanda are securing jobs before completing their studies, highlighting growing confidence in the institution’s graduates and the relevance of its training to labour market demands, Vice Chancellor Prof. Didas Kayihura Muganga has said.
He made the remarks on Monday, May 4, 2026, during a visit by officials from the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Council (HEC) to the College of Science and Technology (KIST).
The visit is part of a broader initiative to engage higher learning institutions, assess their performance, and strengthen the alignment between academic training and labour market needs.
Prof. Kayihura said the university is increasingly focusing on equipping students with practical, job-ready skills, supported by modern facilities and internationally standard laboratories.
He noted that employers are now approaching the university ahead of graduation ceremonies to recruit students, a trend he said reflects the quality of graduates being produced.
“In some cases, institutions request up to 50 students. By the time we hold graduation, more than 300 students have already secured jobs, with some recruited even before completing their studies,” he said.
Despite the progress, he pointed to staffing constraints, noting that the growing number of students is not matched by a proportional increase in academic staff.
“Student enrolment continues to rise, but the number of lecturers is not increasing at the same pace. We have, however, been assured of support,” he added.
He also called for expanded infrastructure to keep up with the rising student population, while commending the Ministry of Education for its continued support.
The University of Rwanda, which kicked off the nationwide institutional review exercise, comprises seven colleges and 13 schools, with nearly 33,000 students, including more than 600 international students.
