On the evening of Friday, June 13, His Lordship Bishop Balthazar Ntivuguruzwa, Bishop of Kabgayi and Chancellor of the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK), officially launched a new graduate-level program at the institution—a Master of Education Sciences—which began in May 2025.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Mr. Eric Bizimana, the Vice Mayor of Muhanga District in charge of Economic, among others.
In his remarks, Bishop Ntivuguruzwa explained that the idea to introduce a postgraduate program at ICK was inspired by recommendations from the Higher Education Council (HEC), which has frequently visited the institution to assess undergraduate programs.
He recounted, “HEC often came here to evaluate our undergraduate curricula and the overall development of our academic departments. During one of these visits, someone remarked, ‘ICK is growing like a flourishing tree—what is stopping it from reaching greater heights?’”
He went on to express his deep appreciation to HEC for its pivotal role in this journey, and extended gratitude to ICK’s leadership, the special planning committee behind the new program, and all those who contributed to making the Master’s program a reality.
The Chancellor also revealed that other faculties are in the process of developing additional graduate programs, which he hopes will be launched in the near future.
“We aim to implement these preparations and establish more postgraduate offerings within the next few years,” he said.
Bishop Ntivuguruzwa emphasized that the launch of this program signifies a new milestone in the growth of ICK, and he suggested that the institution should reclaim its former status and be recognized once again as a university.
“The time has come for ICK to transition into UCK—the Université Catholique de Kabgayi,” he stated, noting that discussions with the Ministry of Education have shown this transformation is well within reach.
Reflecting on the preparation process, Father Professor Fidèle Dushimimana, the Vice-Chancellor of ICK, explained that the journey began back in 2022.
He expressed his gratitude to Bishop Ntivuguruzwa for championing the initiative from the very beginning.
Echoing the Bishop’s sentiments, Father Prof. Dushimimana pledged that ICK is committed to ensuring that every academic department will eventually offer at least one postgraduate program in the coming years.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Eric Bizimana, Vice Mayor of Muhanga District, welcomed the launch of the graduate program as a significant opportunity for local residents, noting that it would reduce the need for students to travel long distances in pursuit of higher education.
“We view this as a valuable opportunity for the people of Muhanga to access quality education closer to home. It is also a major step toward enhancing the quality and accessibility of advanced education in the district,” he said.
“This initiative will help increase the number of residents holding a master’s degree, thereby contributing to regional development.”
The Master of Education Sciences program, which officially commenced on May 16, 2025, began with an inaugural cohort of 68 students. The program is delivered on weekends and is designed to be completed over a two-year period.
Photos: Denyse Uwamahoro