President Paul Kagame on Tuesday held talks with Prof. Dong-Sup Yoon, president of South Korea’s Yonsei University, focusing on strengthening cooperation in higher education, research and knowledge exchange between Rwanda and the Korean institution.
The meeting, held at Village Urugwiro on January 27, 2026, was also attended by Dr. Won-Yong Lee, vice president of Yonsei University in charge of research.
Discussions centered on expanding academic collaboration, promoting research partnerships and building capacity within Rwanda’s education sector.
According to officials, the engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen institutional ties between Yonsei University and Rwanda through university-level exchanges, joint research initiatives and skills development aligned with national priorities.
The meeting builds on a growing partnership between the two sides. In 2024, Yonsei University awarded President Kagame an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in public policy and management.
At the time, the president described the honor as a foundation for stronger and mutually beneficial cooperation between Rwanda and South Korea.
Further reinforcing this relationship, the University of Rwanda and Yonsei University signed a cooperation agreement in September 2025 aimed at expanding collaboration across multiple areas of education and research.
Yonsei University is among South Korea’s top three universities and is widely recognized for its role in advancing a knowledge-based economy, with significant academic influence across the Asian continent.
Founded in 1885, Yonsei University has established 178 research institutes across various disciplines, underscoring its long-standing contribution to innovation, research and academic excellence.
