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By Clementine Nyirangaruye
The University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology; and the host university of the Regional Scholarship, and Innovation Fund (RSIF) under the partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET). An African-led initiative that aims to close the skills gap in AI technologies in Africa, industry partners discussed how the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund continues to bridge and close the skills gap in AI Technologies in Africa.
It was 20th, February 2025. under this partnership, the University of Rwanda has received more than 20 PhD students under this scholarship and four of them have graduated.
“As Africa, we lack the critical mass of scientists, especially at high levels like PhD. Therefore, the goal of this Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund, which is also consistent with Rwanda’s Development goals, was to bridge the skills gap in AI Technologies. So Rwanda, Kenya, and Cote d’Ivoire were the first countries to contribute to RSIF to train their nationals in PhD in Artificial Intelligence, climate change, food systems, material science and Energy.” Said Dr.Julius Ecuru the manager for the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund, Regional Coordination Unit based at the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ecuru stressed the multiplier effect of having a critical mass of scientists.
“If we can have a critical mass of scientists and science leaders at that level, the multiplier effect is great because they become the knowledge producers, they become the co-creators of innovations and then, this leads to socioeconomic transformation.”
IIn 2015, the Government of Rwanda, the Government of Senegal, and the Government of Ethiopia had the vision of training 10,000 PhDs in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa.
At the University of Rwanda, the 4 African Centers of Excellence were established in 2016 under the World Bank funding. These include the African Center of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT) which has a large number of ongoing Ph.D. scholars thanks to RSIF funding.
“This is an achievement that we need to celebrate, and we hope to receive more students in the future under this scholarship that will continue to bring innovations and address local challenges faced by our region and world at large. Said Françoise Kayitare Tengera, UR, DVC for Finance.
The collaboration between RSIF, the World Bank, and industry partners reflects a shared commitment to creating a thriving ecosystem for research and innovation.
The selected scholars for PhD program will play a key role in advancing AI technologies, contributing to solutions that are inclusive, sustainable, and impactful.
Scholarships offered by RSIF have contributed to the ACEIoT sustainability to continue training Africans in the field of IoT and AI.
Rsif is the flagship program of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET), managed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) as the Regional Coordination Unit.
