Carnegie Mellon Launches Graduate Engineering Program in Rwanda
Carnegie Mellon University has partnered with the government of Rwanda in a historic venture to transform graduate education in East Africa. CMU will be the first major higher education institution in the U.S. to offer graduate engineering degree programs in Rwanda.
Carnegie Mellon is establishing an academic program in Kigali, Rwanda, by initially offering a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), which accentuates the balance between technology, business and innovation. Collaborating with the Rwandan government, CMU will also develop an innovation incubator, advanced practical training programs, executive education programs and a mobility research center.
Paul Kagame, president of the Republic of Rwanda, and Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon formally acknowledged the strategic partnership at a ceremonial signing on Sept. 16, 2011 in CMU's University Center. Afterwards, Kagame gave a keynote address that emphasized Rwanda's vision of achieving a knowledge-based economy and the importance of the collaborative relationship between Rwanda and Carnegie Mellon.
In 2007, the United Nations named Rwanda as East Africa's leading information and communications technology (ICT) nation. Aligning with CMU's culture of innovation and expertise in creating international programs, CIT's Dean Pradeep K. Khosla says that the Rwandan program provides the university with "a wonderful opportunity to help a young nation grow and to impart some of the successful educational and research processes so critical to global research institutions like CMU." Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda (CMU-R) will introduce new models of education, R&D and ICT commercialization into a region that is poised for advancement. "Our objective is to enroll approximately 40 students for the initial fall 2012 class, growing to about 150 by 2017," says Khosla. Professional development courses targeting non-degree seeking professionals with technology backgrounds launched in January 2012.
The CMU-R program is directed by Bruce H. Krogh, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Michel Bézy, a distinguished service professor of Engineering and Public Policy, is the program's associate director.
Students in the new program will meet the same strict admission standards used at the Pittsburgh campus. The program is open to students worldwide; however, the program targets students from East Africa, with admission preference given to Rwandan citizens.
Related Links
Learn more about Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda.
See photos from when Rwandan President Paul Kagame visited Carnegie Mellon.
Watch the video from President Kagame's visit.
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