‘Knowledge must serve society,’ UR Vice Chancellor tells Mastercard scholars
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda (UR), Assoc. Prof. Kayihura Muganga Didas, has urged students under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to align their personal ambitions with Rwanda’s national development goals, warning that “knowledge that does not serve society remains incomplete.”
Speaking to the mastercard scholars who already graduated and the new scholars during the event held on January 23 at the Kigali Convention and Exhibition Village (KCEV), Kayihura told newly admitted and graduating scholars that excellence at the University of Rwanda goes beyond academic credentials.
“Cultivate intellectual curiosity, ethical integrity, and a deep sense of public responsibility,” he said. “Be bold in questioning assumptions, yet humble in learning. Above all, align your ambitions with Rwanda’s collective aspirations.”
The ceremony brought together 884 participants, including new scholars, graduates, parents, university leadership, government officials, development partners, and representatives from the private sector. It marked both the welcoming of new scholars for the 2025–2026 academic year and the graduation of the program’s first cohort.
The program follows a 360-degree education model that combines academic training, leadership development, professional exposure, psychosocial support and community engagement, with the goal of preparing graduates for dignified work and leadership roles.
“Graduation is not a conclusion”
Addressing graduating scholars, Kayihura said their transition from university life marks the beginning of greater responsibility, not the end of their journey.
“Graduation is not a conclusion but a deployment,” he said. “The country expects leadership that is competent, principled and transformative. Translate theory into practice, research into solutions, and opportunity into impact, especially at the grassroots.”
Kayihura also highlighted internationalisation as a strategic pillar, noting that the presence of international students, refugees and learners with disabilities strengthens inclusion and innovation within the academic ecosystem.
“You are not beneficiaries of charity,” he told scholars from vulnerable backgrounds. “You are partners in knowledge creation and agents of change.”
Assoc. Prof Anne Marie Kagwesage, Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UR, described the graduation of the first cohort as a milestone for both the university and the country.
The cohort includes 38 graduates, 18 undergraduates and 20 postgraduates, who officially join the program’s alumni network.
“This is not merely a graduation; it is the emergence of transformed leaders,” Kagwesage said. “Their journey validates the program’s philosophy: when opportunity is unlocked, excellence follows.”
She noted that since its inception, the program has recruited 970 scholars across all UR colleges and campuses, with plans to reach at least 1,400 scholars, including 200 students under the government’s 4×4 health workforce acceleration programme.
According to Kagwesage, several graduates have already secured employment, transitioned to competitive master’s and PhD programmes, or taken up teaching and leadership roles in higher education institutions.
For many beneficiaries, the scholarship represents more than financial support.
Deborah Iradukunda, a Conservation Biology student at the University of Rwanda Gikondo Campus, said being selected changed her outlook on the future.
“When I was applying, I thought it would be very difficult,” she said. “But when I was selected, I felt extremely happy. I have plans to implement a project that will help people, and this support will help me contribute something meaningful to society.”
Joseline Uwiringiyimana, a first-year Electrical Power Engineering student, said the scholarship has eased the burden of pursuing a demanding course.
“I am studying engineering, and in the future I will become a professional engineer,” she said. “This will help me develop myself and also help others, and in that way the country will also develop.”
The Chief Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Education Pascal Gatabazi welcomed new Mastercard Foundation Scholars at UR: “This program is more than a scholarship—it builds leadership, academic excellence, community engagement, and employability. Learn boldly, lead with humility, and support one another.”
“Education is not only a personal achievement but a national investment, and these graduates carry a responsibility to contribute to Rwanda’s transformation and Africa’s future,” he added.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda is part of a 10-year partnership (2021–2031) between UR and the Mastercard Foundation, aligned with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation and Vision 2050.
Under the program, the university plans to recruit at least 1,200 academically talented but financially disadvantaged students from Rwanda and across Africa. Priority is given to young women (70 percent), refugees (25 percent), and youth with disabilities (10 percent), with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which accounts for 80 percent of enrolments.
Prince Ruzigana / The Kaminuza Star