News

UR-based Centres of Excellence (ACEs) joined other Centres of Excellence under the Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) project at the final Technical and Advisory Council Meeting (TAM) to reflect on the journey and impact achieved over the past decade.

Held from 8 to 10 December 2025 in Kampala, Uganda, the meeting served as a platform to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements and transformative impact delivered by the Centres of Excellence over ten years of implementation. Participants highlighted how the initiative has strengthened higher education, advanced research and innovation, and delivered practical solutions that positively impact communities across the region.

UR delegates led by Prof Gatare during their participation in the Technical and Advisory Council Meeting which was held in Kampala-Uganda

Throughout the meeting, Centres showcased key achievements realized during the decade, including cutting-edge research outputs, innovative technologies, capacity building for students and faculty, and strong linkages with industry and society. These accomplishments underscored the Centres’ role in driving knowledge-based development and addressing regional and global challenges.

Among the achievements celebrated by the UR-based Centres of Excellence are the graduation of 90 PhD candidates and 690 Master’s students, the establishment of Incubation and Innovation Hubs, and the training of more than 5,000 in-service professionals, among others.

In his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Ignace Gatare, who represented the UR Vice Chancellor at the meeting, hailed the World Bank for its funding support and emphasized the programme’s significant contribution to Rwanda’s vision of becoming a regional knowledge hub.

“This initiative has strongly supported Rwanda’s agenda of becoming a knowledge hub and fostering a knowledge-based economy,” he said.

In addition to reflecting on successes, participants shared lessons learned from implementing large-scale academic and research programmes, offering valuable insights to inform future initiatives. Discussions also focused on sustainability strategies to ensure that the gains achieved by the Centres are maintained and scaled beyond the programme’s lifecycle.

The final TAM meeting also brought together key stakeholders to strengthen existing partnerships, foster new collaborations, and explore opportunities for mobilizing resources to support future growth. These engagements reaffirmed the importance of academia–industry–government collaboration in sustaining innovation and impact.