www.kist.ac.rw

ESTABLISHMENT OF KIST

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KIST

The Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) is the first public technological institute of higher learning in Rwanda. It came into existence as a UNDP project on November 1st, 1997 with a clear mandate to produce technical, scientific, of high calibers. KIST opened with major degree program being offered in engineering. Compulsory courses included English or French language and remedial basic sciences. The Institute was officially inaugurated in April 1998, and four years after its inception, it was legally enacted by Law No. 48/2001 of 26/12/2001.

RATIONALE FOR ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE

The establishment of KIST was part of Rwanda Government's mission to build a strong post-genocide human resource base that was so desperately needed then, and is still needed now. Its establishment was made possible by the combined efforts of the Government of Rwanda as the main stakeholder, UNDP (Rwanda) as the executor of the project, and the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) as the implementing agency. The initial funding for starting the Institute came from a UNDP core funding and a UNDP Trust Fund obtained from the generous contributions by the Governments of Japan and the Netherlands. This financial boost enabled KIST to initiate operations smoothly, taking only two months for the first class of 209 students to begin their studies and those who were successful later graduated in July 27, 2002.

It is now fifteen years since the war and genocide of 1994. During this reconstruction period, the country has slowly but surely continued to rebuild all sectors of its national economy, including its human resource base, and is striving to join the international community in activities such as trade, technological developments, the transfer of technology, the promotion of scientific and technical know-how, and information and communication technologies. KIST's establishment as an institute of science and technology has been part of this ongoing rebuilding effort.

The onus to rekindle the scientific and technical resource base and managerial skills in Rwanda therefore is so far largely on KIST. After only two years of existence, the Institute has progressively endeavored to build an indigenous scientific and technical human resource base, capable in the near future, of propelling the country forward in her efforts to develop all sectors of the economy. Through its regular, part-time, and outreach programs, KIST is making an impact, which is already being felt, in most parts of the country. The entire membership of KIST and Rwandans at large, continue to appreciate both the initial and continued combined efforts of the governments of Rwanda, Japan, and Netherlands; and organizations such as UNDP and GTZ without whose combined support and commitment KIST would probably not be what it is today.

LOCATION

KIST has two campuses: The Main Campus is located in Upper Kiyovu on Avenue de L'Armée, in the heart of Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. It is within easy reach of Kigali's shopping centres, government ministries, hotels, airline offices, the central and private hospitals and clinics, and is only twenty-minute drive from Kigali International Airport. The Remera Campus is in the outskirts of the city and houses the Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer (CITT).