Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University meets President Kagame to discuss education and research opportunities

Coventry University could be training the next generation of aviation and health workers in Rwanda after a successful meeting with the country’s President and key government senior officials.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Latham CBE visited the East African country as the university seeks to develop closer ties with key organisations across the region following the opening of its Africa Hub in the capital, Kigali.

The Vice-Chancellor and Professor Silas Lwakabamba, the university group’s Regional Managing Director, discussed areas of collaboration with His Excellency President Paul Kagame and representatives of Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, the Rwandan Development Board and RwandAir.

Health, entrepreneurship, education and research, manufacturing, aviation, food and water security were all discussed as sectors in which Coventry University would explore opportunities to work with organisations in Rwanda.

Ties between Coventry University and Rwanda have strengthened since the establishment of the university group’s Africa Hub in Kigali in 2021.

Professor Latham said: “We are thrilled to be developing links with more and more organisations in Rwanda. It demonstrates the strong relationships Coventry University is building across the world.

“We work with a number higher education institutions, businesses and industry bodies worldwide and the shared knowledge gained from this approach is of great benefit to students.”

Professor Silas Lwakabamba, Regional Managing Director at Coventry University’s Africa Hub, added: “Through Coventry University’s Africa Hub we are in a fantastic position to share our expertise with organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa, helping to support their global aspirations.

“We are at the start of a journey that we hope will see Coventry University work with more respected organisations in the region.

“Our discussions this week were very positive and constructive, and we hope to be in a position to formally announce these collaborations in the near future.”

Zephanie Niyonkuru, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board said: “With a wealth of experience in teaching and learning, research and enterprise development that Coventry University possesses, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is delighted to foster collaborations with the newly established African Hub, based in Kigali to train the next generation of professionals and entrepreneurs in aviation, healthcare, among other key sectors of our economy.”

Coventry University Group has achieved success as a recruiter of international students in the UK and has been growing its reputation as a provider of high-quality education and research on a global scale, with hubs in Africa, Dubai, Singapore and Brussels.

To find out more about Coventry University’s Africa Hub visit https://www.coventry.ac.uk/the-university/about-coventry-university/global-presence/global-hub/africa-hub/