Denise NSANGA | 06/04/2023
Kigali, 5
April 2023 - A new MSc programme
in Biotechnology was launched today in Rwanda to ensure sustainable local
production and improved access to quality-assured vaccines, medicines and health
technologies in Africa.
In its
agenda vision 2050, the Government of Rwanda sets a pathway that will lead the country
to living standards of upper middle-income countries by 2035 and high-income countries
by 2050. Rwanda is hence targeting to develop high-growth knowledge-driven sectors
which can enable the envisioned rapid social economic transformation, while providing
the necessary conditions to build required industrial research and development (R&D)
capability, including a competent workforce.
The MSc in
Biotechnology programme, hosted by the University of Rwanda, responds to that
vision and has been developed in the broader human capital development program which includes also training of PhDs in
Biotechnology.
The launch
of the programme also follows Government of Rwanda’s vision to become a regional
hub for next-generation biomanufacturing. This is supported by the Team
Europe’s initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and
health technologies in Africa (MAV+) under the EU Global Gateway strategy. At
continental level, it equally represents a milestone under the talent
development bold programme of the Partnerships for African Vaccine
Manufacturing (PAVM). The
Ambassador of the European Union to Rwanda, Belén CALVO UYARRA, stated, “The
EU in Rwanda and Team Europe are proud to announce the launch of the MSc and
PhD programmes in biotechnology at the University of Rwanda. It brings together
the expertise of EU member states’ universities to train the future Rwandan
workforce on academic and industrial aspects of biotechnology, vaccine
development and manufacturing. It is also another important milestone
displaying EU’s full commitment to boost local manufacturing capacities in
Africa and strengthen pharmaceutical systems and health equity.”
The MSc
programme, supported through the Kwigira programme of the European Union in Rwanda
and Enabel - the Belgian development agency, will be implemented in partnership
with different European universities as well as other global academic and
research networks.
In his
remarks, Bert Versmessen, Ambassador of Belgium to Rwanda said: “The launch
of this MSc PhD program is a showcase of what
Team Europe can contribute to Rwanda’s ambitions
in the biotech sector. The first seed of cooperation between Belgian
universities and the
University of Rwanda was planted 5 years ago with Belgian development funding. Other universities from France and Cameroon
have joined the initiative and the EU stepped in with additional funding to turn this into a
full-fledged educational program. The students going through this program will become the
human capital required to turn Rwanda into a biotech pioneer on the continent.”
Developing a
pole of competence in biotechnology is one of the toolkits that would strengthen
higher learning, research and innovation, and position the country as a benchmark
for the sub-region in the field of biotechnology, in particular by promoting
the generation and production of added value
bio-products and bio-processes of economic importance.
“The
programme launched today will serve as backbone support for the Government of Rwanda's strategic initiative to establish
a biomanufacturing plant to supply the country and continent. Skills delivered
through the course will have growing impact on climate change and
climate-resilient agriculture”
said, Rwandan Minister of State Hon. Dr. Yvan Butera.
25 students
(medical doctors, biologists, pharmacists) will be recruited for the MSc programme
each intake, aiming to train 100 skilled MSc graduates in 4 years. 5 PhD candidates
will also be supported. Lecturers from European countries will provide distance
and onsite training, with a common core in the first year and internship
training/research responding to local health needs in the second year.
About MAV+Following
the call by African leaders in April 2021, the Team
Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health
technologies in Africa (MAV+) exists since May 2021. It contributes to
create an enabling environment for local manufacturing of health products and
helps tackle barriers on both supply and demand sides. MAV+ has already
mobilised 1.1 billion and is contributing to several complementary projects
across the continent, in close coordination with the PAVM hosted by the Africa CDC.
Team Europe is coordinated by the European Commission and integrates EU Member States
as well as European financing institutions.
About the
KWIGIRA programme
As part of
the MAV+ initiative, the EU-Enabel programme “Kwigira” supports the Rwanda Food
and Drug Authority in its regulatory functions, laboratory equipment, the digital transformation and upgrading of
pharmaceutical systems, strengthening of quality control laboratories and
skills development. It is implemented by Enabel with financing from the European
Union.
About Global
Gateway
Global
Gateway is the European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in
digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and
research systems across the world. Global Gateway investments support efforts
in vaccine deployment, infrastructure and production capacities, skills
development, regulatory frameworks and universal health coverage.
Contact:
European
Union
Flora
KAITESI
Press and
Information Officer
Delegation
of the European Union to Rwanda
Email: Flora.KAITESI@eeas.europa.eu
Tel: +250
788 310 471
Enabel
Denise
Nsanga
Communications
Officer
Enabel in
Rwanda
Email: denise.nsanga@enabel.be
Tel: +250
788 745 939
University
of Rwanda
Ignatius
KABAGAMBE
Division
Manager for Communication
University
of Rwanda
Email:
i.kabagambe@ur.ac.rw; ignatius.rwiyemaho@gmail.com
Tel: +250
783 008 76
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Rwanda RWA21001