INES-Ruhengeri Showcases Best Practices in Academic Mobility at the 17th IUCEA Annual Conference

INES-Ruhengeri continues to strengthen its regional engagement through active participation in higher education dialogue across East Africa.

Our Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Research, Dr. Charline Uwilingiyimana, proudly represented INES-Ruhengeri at the 17th IUCEA Annual Conference and Meeting, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 29–30 July 2026.

Bringing together higher education leaders, policymakers, researchers, and development partners from across the East African Community, this year's conference is held under the theme:

"Powering the Future of Higher Education in East Africa through Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations."

Dr Charline Uwilingiyimana (on the left side), the DVCAR of INES Ruhengeri during the IUCEA conference in Nairobi

During a high-level panel discussion, Dr. Uwilingiyimana joined fellow academicians to explore the role of partnerships and collaborations in promoting academic mobility, where she shared INES-Ruhengeri's experience in fostering international partnerships that enhance student and staff exchanges, collaborative research, institutional capacity building, and cross-border learning opportunities.

Addressing participants, Dr. Uwilingiyimana emphasised that sustainable internationalisation requires more than partnerships or academic programmes alone. She noted:

"At INES-Ruhengeri, we have learned one important lesson: internationalization is not built by partnerships alone, nor by academic programmes alone. It is built by creating an ecosystem where quality, collaboration, inclusion and student success reinforce one another. When these elements come together, internationalization is no longer an aspiration, it becomes a lived reality."

She further highlighted the enabling environment that has positioned Rwanda as an emerging destination for higher education:

"We have also been fortunate to benefit from Rwanda's stable environment, good governance, security and welcoming culture. Combined with the unique beauty of Musanze and the presence of the Volcanoes National Park, these factors make Rwanda and INES-Ruhengeri in particular an increasingly attractive destination for higher education."

Her remarks reflected INES-Ruhengeri's holistic approach to internationalisation, where strategic partnerships are integrated with quality education, inclusive learning environments, and student-centred initiatives to create lasting impact.

Participation in the IUCEA Annual Conference reaffirms INES-Ruhengeri's commitment to expanding regional and international collaborations that foster innovation, academic excellence, and meaningful opportunities for students, staff, and researchers across East Africa

Dr. Charline Uwilingiyimana, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Research at INES-Ruhengeri, contributes to a panel discussion on the role of partnerships and collaborations in promoting academic mobility during the 17th IUCEA Annual Conference and Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.