INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP in the presence of institutional and diplomatic representatives

The University of Parma participated in the International Workshop entitled “Outcomes and future perspectives of Erasmus+ Capacity Building Projects in higher education in Rwanda” held in recent days in Kigali in the framework of the Erasmus Plus Projects such as EnRHEd (Enhancement of Rwandan Higher Education in strategic fields for sustainable growth) and GREATER (Growing Rwanda Energy Awareness Through highER education).

As Rector of University of Parma, which is the leader and promoter of the two Capacity Building Projects through the University Center for International Cooperation – CUCI, Prof. Paolo Andrei intervened with a video message (click here to see the video message):

“The University of Parma – he said – is very proud to be the leader of these and other exchange projects with Rwanda. In this way, as a European institution, we contribute to the implementation of higher education development policies in the world. And this is not a secondary task for a public and ancient university like the University of Parma. Our University, in fact, recognizes the importance of aligning its action with the European Union policy, aimed at increasing the quality and efficiency of education and training systems not only in the European Union, aimed at increasing the quality and efficiency of education and training systems not only in the European Union but also in other countries of the world”.”

Also representing the University of Parma, there was Roberto Valentino – EnRHEd coordinator, Paolo Ciampolini – coordinator of GREATER, Davide Barbanti, Marco D’Oria and Silvia Rossetti, respectively leading professors in the field of Food Science and Technology, Hydraulic Engineering and Architecture, as well as Valeria Todaro, Francesco Maria Froldi, Luciana Stortoni and Mirko Mongilli.

The workshop was also attended by representatives of the European Higher Education Institutions which are Partners of the Projects: Université de Liège (Belgium) and three German universities of applied sciences, Rheinische Fachhochschule, Hochschule Niederrhein and Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. Rectors and many other lecturers from the Rwandan Higher Education Institutions involved in the Projects participated as well, namely from University of Rwanda (which also organized the event), Ines-Ruhengeri Institute of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic School of Rwanda and University of Technology and Art by Byumba. Some members of the international diplomacy delegates in Rwanda took part in the event, too, such as the European Ambassador to Rwanda, Belen Calvo Uyarra, the scientific attaché of the Italian Embassy, Fabio Santoni, the Italian honorary consul, Giovanni Davite, as well as the representatives of the German, Belgium and France Embassies. Emmanuel Rukundo as Director General of the government agency Rwanda Water Resources Board particpated as well.

During the workshop, the main aspects of Capacity Building projects contributing to the development of Higher Education in Rwanda within strategic sectors for sustainable development – such as food science and technology, protection and defense of the territory, access to clean and renewable energy – were considered.

Workshop was a special opportunity to share among the different actors the experience of the EnRHEd project, which is nearing its conclusion (i.e. 15 January 2024), and the future prospects of the GREATER project, which started a few months ago. It was also an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between many European and Rwandan partners, with particular attention to enhancement activities in the fields of teacher training, teaching and research.

In both cases of the Erasmus+ EnRHEd and GREATER Projects, the objectives are the revision of current curricula, the creation of new programs, the training of teaching staff, the promotion of internationalization based on the exchange of students and teachers between Rwanda and Europe.

We invite you to see the various recorded interventions and the recording of the day on our youtube channel at the following link: EnRHEd Project – Final International Workshop – Recording – YouTube