Minister of Education Nsengimana Joseph Visits U.S. Universities to Strengthen Educational Partnerships
During the past week, Rwanda’s Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, conducted a working visit to several universities in the United States. The main purpose of this visit was to reinforce partnerships aimed at improving the quality of education in Rwanda, advancing innovation in the education sector, and exploring mutually beneficial collaborations.
The Minister visited some of the world’s leading institutions, including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University, Tufts University, Yale University, Wellesley College, Hamilton College, the University of St. Thomas, Western New England University, Sacramento State University, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
During his visit, Minister Nsengimana met with university leaders and Rwandan students studying in the U.S., engaging in discussions focused on Rwanda’s ambition to become a continental hub for science, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven education.
According to Rwanda’s Embassy in the United States, these conversations emphasized Rwanda’s plan to establish a pan-African institution dedicated to teaching science and history—tentatively named the Historical & Educational Science Center for Africa—to foster research and knowledge exchange across the continent.
At Harvard, the Minister held a detailed meeting with Professor Mark Elliott, Vice Provost for International Affairs, to explore potential collaboration in establishing a model center of educational excellence in Rwanda, as well as broader cooperation in teaching and research.
Similarly, at MIT, Minister Nsengimana met with Michael John Gorman, Director of the MIT Museum and Center for Science, along with researchers specializing in the use of AI in advanced academic fields, including space studies. He presented Rwanda’s vision for creating an African Knowledge and Heritage Science Center that will elevate education and heritage-based research at a continental level.
This visit aligns with the Rwandan Government’s broader strategy to promote high-quality, future-oriented education through strategic international cooperation.
