Three students from the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK) have begun their studies at Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences (CHE) in the Netherlands under an academic partnership between the two institutions.
The students, Arsene Mbangukira Hirwa, Betty Umukundwa and Jean d’Amour Ishimwe, started their studies on August 31, 2026. They will spend five months in the Netherlands as part of the student mobility programme between ICK and CHE.
From left to right: Arsene Mbangukira Hirwa, Betty Umukundwa and Jean d’Amour Ishimwe
Speaking to ICK News, the students expressed their excitement about the opportunity to continue their studies in Europe and highlighted the knowledge and experience they expect to gain during their stay.
Mbangukira said he was grateful for the opportunity, describing it as both an exciting experience and a responsibility to work hard and improve his knowledge.
“I am very happy to have this opportunity to study at CHE, but I also see it as a responsibility because I have to work hard and increase my knowledge,” he said.
He added that he expects to make new friends, learn about a different culture and understand how people work in different professional environments.
“Besides what I will learn academically, I hope to make new friends, experience another culture and learn how people carry out their daily work. For me, this is not only about studying, but also about representing my university and my country well,” he said.
Ishimwe also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity and thanked God and ICK for selecting him to participate in the programme.
“First of all, I thank God, and I also thank ICK for selecting me. I am very happy to continue my studies on a different continent from where I was born,” he said.
Ishimwe said the programme would complement his previous studies and help him develop skills that will be valuable in his journalism career.
“I am happy that what I am going to study is related to what I have been studying and will contribute to my professional development. I expect to gain more knowledge about how international journalism is practised and acquire advanced skills beyond what I already have,” he said.
Umukundwa Betty shared the excitement of her colleagues, saying that studying in Europe was an opportunity she had not expected when she started her studies at ICK.
“I had never imagined that I would get this opportunity. It motivates me to work harder and represent my university well. We have started our studies, and I expect to gain a lot of knowledge and experience that will also help me when I return home,” she added.
The students said they are well adapting to life in the Netherlands, despite being unfamiliar with the environment. They explained that students who previously studied at CHE had shared their experiences and advised them on what to expect and how to adapt to life in the country.
The academic partnership between ICK and CHE dates back to 2018. Through the partnership, ICK students have travelled to the Netherlands for academic training lasting more than five months, while lecturers from both institutions have taught students at the two universities.
Under the partnership, ICK has so far sent 14 students to CHE, including the three students who recently travelled to the Netherlands. Six lecturers from CHE have also travelled to ICK to teach short courses to journalism and communication students.
Meanwhile, three lecturers from ICK have travelled to CHE at different times to teach short courses to students there.