CMU-Africa and UR hold collaborative research symposium

Carnegie Mellon University Africa and the University of Rwanda (UR) continue to enhance their longstanding academic partnership through the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec), which works to drive inclusive digital growth across the continent through higher education and the power of collaboration. In support of this mission, CMU-Africa and UR leadership, faculty, and students met to identify common research goals and outline a roadmap for impactful academic collaborations during a two-day symposium held at both institutions on March 13 and 14.

Key areas of collaboration discussed at the symposium include joint supervision by faculty from both institutions for Ph.D. candidates enrolled in the University of Rwanda’s Africa Centers of Excellence in Internet of Things and Data Science and their School of Information and Communication Technology. Cross-institutional advising will enhance the quality of doctoral research and promote robust and diverse mentorship.

CMU-Africa and UR also considered ways to share their faculty expertise, laboratory facilities, and digital academic resources. Students from both institutions will benefit from access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a proposed research collaboration hub at UR’s Center of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth.

In addition, CMU-Africa and UR plan to organize a structured series of research seminars to provide the institutions’ Ph.D. and master’s students with a platform to present their work, receive feedback, and engage in scholarly dialogue. These colloquia will emphasize inclusive participation, encouraging contributions from students of diverse backgrounds.

Taking advantage of their relationship to further boost research capacity, faculty from both universities will also collaborate on joint grant proposals addressing Africa's key development challenges. Grant-writing workshops will be offered to strengthen such submissions’ quality and competitiveness.

"We are excited about this collaboration with CMU-Africa," says Raymond Ndikumana, deputy vice chancellor for strategic planning and administration at the University of Rwanda. "It's a milestone that will unlock more opportunities for our students and faculty to engage in meaningful research and create solutions for Africa’s development needs."

By continuing to expand their research partnership, CMU-Africa and UR are facilitating interdisciplinary research that will empower the next generation of African tech leaders, engineers, and innovators.

"This partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing research and innovation on the continent," says Conrad Tucker, director of Carnegie Mellon University Africa. "By combining our strengths, we are creating an ecosystem where African talent can thrive and lead on the global stage."