The first 18 students following the Master of Science programme in Water Resources and Environmental Management at the National University of Rwanda have just graduated. The Master in WREM started running in 2006 and after having completed the 2-year programme, the 18 students received their diplomas on March 28th
UNESCO-IHE started a collaboration programme with the National University of Rwanda (NUR) in Butare with the main objective to establish an MSc programme to train specialists for the water sector in Rwanda and the region. Emphasis was placed on water supply and sanitation for poverty alleviation and sustainable socio-economic and environmental development. The programme was funded by the Dutch institution Nuffic.
After the development of the curriculum in consultation with the Rwandan water sector, the MSc programme was launched in May 2006, as one of the first Master Degree programmes at a Rwandan University.
The 2006-2007 programme consisted of a taught part of 14 modules and a six-month dissertation phase. Teaching and supervision of the research was done by NUR staff, by guest lecturers from the region (Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana) and by UNESCO-IHE lecturers.
‘Although some difficulties had to be faced during the implementation of the first run of the programme, students performed well’, explains Erik de Ruyter van Steveninck, project director and UNESCO-IHE Head of the Environmental Resources department.
At the graduation ceremony on March 28, 2008, the 19 students were awarded their MSc degree. Besides family and friends of the students, the ceremony was attended by officials from the Rwandan government and the Dutch Embassy as well as UNESCO-IHE lecturers involved in the programme.