The Ministry of Education through the Higher Education Council has organised a high-level conference on re-thinking higher education as a catalyst for research and innovation in Rwanda, bringing together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and international partners.

Convened in partnership with Princeton University, the conference forms part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to reposition universities and higher learning institutions as central drivers of research, innovation, and national development. Discussions focused on how institutions can evolve beyond traditional teaching mandates to become engines of discovery, entrepreneurship, and evidence-informed policymaking aligned with national priorities.

Rwanda has made steady progress in strengthening its higher education and research ecosystem. Gross domestic expenditure on research and development reached 0.79% of GDP in 2023—an important milestone in building a knowledge-based and innovation-led economy. At the same time, international benchmarks, including innovation performance and research commercialization, highlight opportunities to further expand the sector’s impact.

Addressing participants, the Minister of Education emphasized the transformative role of higher education in shaping Rwanda’s future:

“If we are to realize the ambitions of Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), our universities and research institutions must evolve beyond traditional teaching mandates. They must become dynamic engines of discovery, innovation, industrialization, and evidence-informed policymaking.”

He added that the next phase of reform must prioritize quality, relevance, and impact—ensuring that universities are closely connected to industry, communities, and global knowledge networks while nurturing research that responds to local challenges.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Higher Education Council, Dr. Edward Kadozi, highlighted both the progress achieved and the urgency of accelerating transformation in the sector:

“Higher education in Rwanda has grown steadily, and with increasing pace… This growth is impressive but with close to five million school students, Rwanda needs much more good-quality higher education. We must strive for faster and deeper transformation.” 

He noted that over the past two decades, enrollment has expanded significantly, institutions have increased, and doctoral training has grown—signs of a system gaining momentum but still requiring sustained investment and reform to meet national ambitions. 

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on strengthening academic-industry collaboration, improving research financing, developing and retaining talent, and aligning research priorities with Rwanda’s development agenda. The conference also provides a platform to advance dialogue around the Government’s five-year higher education strategy and practical pathways for building a more responsive, innovative, and globally competitive system.

As Rwanda advances toward the goals of Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation, the conference reinforces a shared understanding: the country’s future competitiveness and socio-economic transformation will be closely linked to the strength, relevance, and impact of its higher education and research ecosystem.