The University of Zambia (UNZA) and the University of Rwanda (UR) have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their academic partnership. The ceremony, held in Lusaka on July 15, 2025, focused on advancing education, research, and innovation between the two institutions. The previous MoU, signed in 2019, had expired in March 2025.
Speaking at the event, His Excellency Emmanuel Bugingo, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Zambia, emphasised that the partnership is a bridge connecting the minds of Rwandan and Zambian scholars. "This MoU is not merely an agreement on paper; it is a bridge connecting the minds of Rwandan and Zambian scholars, fostering knowledge exchange, and cultivating solutions to the challenges facing Africa," he said. He highlighted the importance of education as a cornerstone of national development and urged both universities to develop a detailed implementation plan with clear performance indicators.
Meanwhile, UNZA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mundia Muya, noted that the renewed agreement outlines four key areas of collaboration: joint research, academic staff and student exchanges, co-sponsorship of academic events, and reciprocal sharing of institutional publications. He stated that the University of Zambia's Institute for Distance Education (IDE) will serve as the focal point for implementing the MoU.
And Professor Kayihura Muganga Didas, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, expressed gratitude to the Rwandan High Commissioner for his role in facilitating the renewal. He described the partnership as a vision to leverage the strengths of both institutions to produce graduates who are globally competitive and committed to community transformation.
Since 2017, UNZA's Institute for Distance Education has had a strong presence in Rwanda through its Master of Science in Peace, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution programme, which conducts annual study tours. This year, 25 students from the programme are scheduled to travel to Rwanda for an academic tour with the theme "The Architecture of Peace: Cross-Border Higher Education Collaboration."