Overview

University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology - former Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management (KIST, Kinyarwanda: Ishuri Rikuru ry’Ubumenyi n’Ikoranabuhanga rya Kigali, French: Institut des Sciences et des Technologies de Kigali) is the first public technological institute of higher learning in Rwanda. It came into existence as a UNDP project on November 1st, 1997 with a clear mandate to produce technical, scientific, of high caliber.

UR-CST opened with a major degree programme being offered in engineering. Compulsory courses included English or French language and remedial basic sciences. The College was officially inaugurated in April 1998, and four years after its inception, it was legally enacted by Law No. 48/2001 of 26/12/2001.

The rationale for establishing UR-CST; The establishment of UR-CST was part of Rwanda Government’s mission to build a strong post-genocide human resource base that was so desperately needed then, and is still needed now. Its establishment was made possible by the combined efforts of the Government of Rwanda as the main stakeholder, UNDP (Rwanda) as the executor of the project, and the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) as the implementing agency.

The initial funding for starting the Institute came from a UNDP core funding and a UNDP Trust Fund obtained from the generous contributions by the Governments of Japan and the Netherlands. This financial boost enabled UR-CST to initiate operations smoothly, taking only two months for the first class of 209 students to begin their studies and those who were successful later graduated in July 27, 2002.

It is now over 20 years since the war and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ended. During this reconstruction period, the country has slowly but surely continued to rebuild all sectors of its national economy, including its human resource base, and is striving to join the international community in activities such as trade, technological developments, the transfer of technology, the promotion of scientific and technical know-how, and information and communication technologies. UR-CST’s establishment has been part of this ongoing rebuilding effort.

UR-CST’s Vision is to be an internationally renowned and regionally engaged African University. With the aim of delivering programmes of academic learning to the highest international standards, engaged in world class fundamental, strategic and applied research and providing services to the community and business whilst remaining true to our commitment to be responsive to the needs of Rwanda.

While our Mission as laid down in our Statute is:

1. To equip students with advanced skills with a view to increasing manpower and capacity for national development.

2. To promote research, based on the disciplines offered at UR-CST.

3. To disseminate the results of research through teaching, seminars, conferences, public lectures, publications and other appropriate means.

4. To provide consultancy services to government, industry, the private sector and the community at large.

5. To engage in income-generating activities with a view to creating awareness of lucrative investment.

6. To collaborate with other academic, professional, technical and research institutions in and outside Rwanda for educational and technological development.

7. To develop and promote close collaboration with the private sector and the community so as to enrich UR-CST’s programmes.

8. To make provision for the advancement, transmission and preservation of knowledge and to sustain intellectual life in Rwanda.

9. To contribute to the cultural, civic and moral training of its students and to participate actively in the economic and socio-cultural development of the country.