A senior official from USA based University Bruce H Krogh has said Carnegie Mellon University will be opening its Rwanda based campus this year.
It will be operating in Terracom House just below Laico Hotel formerly Hotel Novotel waiting to expand in three years in a more expanded campus in collaboration by government of Rwanda.
Carnegie Mellon University is said to be among 20 best universities in the world having expanded its influence largely in African developing countries to enhance technology.
Application for the applied masters’ degree program have started coming through the University’s official website www.cmu.edu/rwanda for and will be completed in April, according to Krogh.
“Classes will begin in august and we are targeting 40 students in our first class. In February we are also beginning short courses in professional development in ICT business strategy and moble-technology and it can be applied on our website too,” Krogh the Director of CMU-R said in an interview with IGIHE.com.
Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda (CMU-R) introduces new models of education, research and development, and the commercialization of today’s information and communications technology (ICT) in a region.
CMU-R is offering a Master of Science degree in Information Technology (MSIT) with a multidisciplinary curriculum that strikes a fine balance between technology, business, and innovation, preparing the next generation of IT leaders in East Africa.
On Monday information session for professionals in ICT is scheduled sponsored by Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Krogh said it was also an opportunity for the University to learn more and get involved in the development and emerging markets.
“Many of the technologies like mobile money we don’t have it in USA, but we are looking at how best technology can serve the needs of the society. We have come to contribute towards getting home based solution in technology,” Krogh added.
“Rwanda has created a good environment for business and investment as well. The university was pleased by the way Rwanda has grown creating infrastructure, attractive environment and policies for business, Rwanda does not suffer extreme corruption like many African countries,” Krogh said.
Krogh said the university wants to be part of the government’s vision 2020 for skills development and growth of ICT in Rwanda and East Africa at large.
According to him the university will offer same courses and same examination but the special difference is applications meant to look for home based solution technology.
Commenting on those students with financial need, Krogh said government is yet to avail financial the support to only unable to pay their tuition fees.
“One thing I would like to communicate to Rwandan students is that opportunities given are the same given to our students elsewhere in the world and offering the world class degree,”
“Our contribution is one part of a very big picture of ICT. But we are training people that can or going to make impact on the technologies based on home ground technologies. There is no need to import solution for particular technology that is not used here,”
“we are training people to be leaders and be at the center of providing technologies that get solutions for available problems. Create people who can be entrepreneurs and innovative like technologies that can help let say making impact on agriculture,”
Krogh adds that a few students will spend a semester in the USA campus to try to interact so all students from both campuses and even other campuses to feel united and connected towards a common goal of excellence in technology.
“It takes many people to achieve a full range of technology, but all what is needed is a people who can be creative, innovative and make a change,” He said.
He said that the uniqueness of this programme is that the student will get a a world class degree associated with what is happening here.
“We have not heard any program like this in whole of Africa. A world class degree associated with what is happening here. We want to have a special flavor of this world class degree just for Rwanda,” he said.
“Technology translated to problems happening in this area for students to be part of solving problems in their own technology. Actually we will also be learning like what is the best way to go and we will be working very carefully interacting with them,”.
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