On June 28, 2024, a delegation from the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK) and representatives from nine other Rwandan universities visited high school students in Rwamagana and Kayonza Districts to share information about their academic programs.
Sponsored by the BK Foundation, the event gathered over 1,892 high school seniors from various schools in these districts.
Delegates from ICK, INES Ruhengeri, IPRC Gishari, University of Kigali, Kepler College, and other institutions each had between five and seven minutes to present their programs before engaging with students at their respective stands.
This interactive approach allowed students to gain insights into various universities and their offerings, sparking excitement about their future academic paths.
Anitha Tuyizere, a senior at Groupe Scolaire St Aloys, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I wasn’t aware of ICK before, and I was delighted to learn that they offer Nursing and Midwifery programs. If I don’t secure a scholarship, I would be happy to study there and even recommend it to others.”
Chantal Muhawenimana, a student at New Life Christian Academy in Kayonza, found the event invaluable. She noted that such initiatives should continue and expand to other regions to help students understand their post-secondary options.
She emphasized that many secondary school graduates often lack adequate information about available university programs.
University representatives echoed these sentiments as Emmanuel Nturanyenabo, Public Relations Officer at INES Ruhengeri, highlighted the importance of these events.
He remarked, “Students need to meet people who can explain their options after finishing secondary school. There is a significant gap in their knowledge about potential university programs and careers. Events like these are crucial because they provide comprehensive information and should be linked with career guidance.”
Celestin Twagirumukiza, Quality Assurance Officer at ICK, advocated for similar events to be held in each province. He stated, “This initiative should extend beyond Rwamagana and occur in various locations across different provinces.”
However, some university representatives suggested improvements for future events, noting that the limited time given to present was insufficient. They recommended strengthening the event planning to ensure students receive complete information about university programs.
Director Moses Ssenyonjo of Rwamagana Leaders School acknowledged some shortcomings in this year’s event but assured improvements for next year. He said, “The next University Fair will be in July 2025, and we are hoping for a bigger and better event, as we have learned a lot from the past two events.”
The Rwamagana Leaders’ School University Fair, which started in 2023, initially attracted 1,505 senior students from Rwamagana District and participating Rwandan universities. This year’s event saw an increased turnout with 1,892 senior students from both Rwamagana and Kayonza Districts and participation from 10 universities, despite some institutions withdrawing due to unforeseen challenges.
