Elevating UR-Tsinghua Partnership : a field station unveiled at Gikondo Campus

The University of Rwanda and Tsinghua University took their existing partnership to a new level by establishing a field station at the Gikondo campus. This centre, named the “Institute for International and Area Studies” (IIAS), was unveiled by H.E. Wang Xuekun, the Ambassador of the Republic of China in Rwanda, alongside Françoise Tengera, the UR Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance. The center is expected to enhance multidisciplinary research and academic studies across various fields.
Françoise Tengera, the UR Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance

In her remarks, Tengera noted that establishing the IIAS Station at the University of Rwanda was a deliberate decision driven by the goodwill to establish strong ties and collaboration between the two sister institutions.

“This will undoubtedly take our mutual business to higher levels,” she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xuekun, pointed out that the IIAS station at UR is the only Tsinghua University field station in Africa.
“It represents a milestone in academic exchanges and cooperation between China and Rwanda. I believe this will greatly enhance mutual understanding between our two countries and provide valuable references for policymakers. It will also help the people of the two countries to know each other better, thus laying a foundation for their exchanges and friendship,” he noted.
H.E. Wang Xuekun, the Ambassador of the Republic of China in Rwanda
According to the latest ranking, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, has been ranked the best university in Asia for the sixth year in a row. The Gikondo Campus now hosts offices of two renowned universities, the first being Kent State University. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tsinghua University and UR is broad enough and encompasses rich academic objectives.

Participants posed for Group photo