On 3^rd September 2021, at Rwanda Polytechnic Head Office, held a validation session of occupational analysis and Competency profiling for Btech Curriculum Development in Construction and in Automotive Technology. The purpose of this meeting is to keep the key stakeholders of RP informed on the new undertaking of introducing BTech but also to get inputs from key practitioners on the outcome the documents developed up to now for that purpose.

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic Dr. James Gashumba said that TVET polytechnics offer training programs up to Advanced  Diploma only which limits the creation of a pipeline of qualified TVET trainers and practitioners in some economic sectors.

“The current Rwanda TVET Qualifications Framework (RTQF) consists of seven levels while the highest qualification is advanced diploma (level 7) and said that the new Rwanda Qualification Framework (Still to be approved) includes TVET higher levels, allowing TVET polytechnics to provide professional bachelor and master’s degrees (BTech and MTech) in order to respond to the technological and market demand, avoid dead-end to TVET Students and make TVET more attractive’’. Dr.James Gashumba said

He further expressed that Rwanda Polytechnic has identified the trades of Automotive technology and Construction Technology among the emerging areas with new technological changes RP plans to introduce the Btech in these trades from the upcoming academic year and through the partnership with Chamber of Skilled Crafts (CSC) Koblenz under its project called Partner Africa, RP started the process of BTech curriculum development in the above-mentioned trades.

He went on saying that RP wants to introduce Btech in order to train a critical mass of qualified TVET trainers with hands-on skills and pedagogical skills , produce graduate that meet industrial needs with the ability to carry out industry-oriented projects, Encourage and involve students in innovative and creative projects reflecting new technologies and revealing rapid responses to the society, Induce industries to take up further development of selected innovative student projects, which ultimately become new and innovative industrial processes or products and give first in the market advantage, Contribute to enhancement of living standards through technological and vocational capabilities in social and economic development to name but a few.

The Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic, expressed thanks to CSC Koblenz for providing financial and technical expertise, Akagera Business Group Ltd, HORIZON, Mass Build Ltd, AFRICAST LTd…. who provided technical expertise in working on the documents to be validated. He also acknowledged RP technical team for working on responsibility.