Thematic Clusters / Sub-themes
📘 Teacher Professional Development (TPD)
💻 Educational Technology & Pedagogical Innovations (ETPI)
🧩 Inclusive Education & Early Childhood (IEECE)
🌍 Languages & Social Sciences (LSSE)
🔬 STEM Education (SE)
🤖 AI & Educational Transformation (AIET)
🤝 Industry–Academia Collaboration (IACSI)
📚 Creating Legacy through Research Co-Creation (CLRC)
📖 Deconstructing Research for Impact (DREI)
🧠 Mental Health, Mindfulness & Wellbeing (NIHR)
10 thematic clusters driving dialogue on pedagogical innovation, resilience and sustainable impact.
Day 1 — Monday, 15 June 2026
| Time | Activity / Event | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30–09:00 | Registration of participants | Protocol Team |
| 09:00–09:15 | Traditional Dance & Music | Entertainment Team |
| 09:15–10:00 | Opening remarks | Conference Convenor, Principal UR-CE, UR Vice Chancellor |
| 10:00–10:10 | Group Photo | Protocol Team |
| 10:10–10:40 | Health Break | Organizing Committee |
🎤 Master of Ceremony: Assoc. Prof. Michael Tusiime & Ms Aloysie Uwizeyemariya | Session Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Irénée Ndayambaje | Rapporteur: Dr Delphine Mukingambeho
Symposium 1: Advancing Pedagogy and Quality in Higher Education
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 10:40–11:00 | Symposium 1 Overview | HEP-TED Coordinator | Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Irénée Ndayambaje |
| 11:00–11:30 | Keynote: "Advancing pedagogy and Quality in Higher Education: pathways to Transformative Teaching" | Dr. Khalid Idris |
| 11:30–12:15 | Panel Discussion | Panelists: Dr Parfait Yongabo, Prof Eugene Ndabaga, Dr Edwige Kampire, Dr Claude Karegeya, Dr Leena Ripatti-Torniainen |
| 12:15–13:20 | LUNCH BREAK | |
Parallel Sessions (13:20–15:10 & 15:30–17:30)
📌 ROOM A: Teacher Professional Development (TPD)
13:20 Jeannette Muterampundu – Contribution of Maths & Science PD training on TPACK
13:40 Joseph Kubwimana – Impact of Student Disruptive Behaviors on relationships & performance
14:00 Leena Ripatti-Torniainen – Transformative Potential of Teacher Leadership
14:20 Alexis Niyomwungeri – Assessment of QA, M&E for PDDs at UR-CE
15:10 Parfait Niyongabo – Professional Learning in Practice (HEP-TED)
15:30 Daniel Madzanire – Evidence-Based Strategies for Parental Involvement
15:50 David Onen – CPD challenges in private schools
16:10 Grace Ukwigize – Reflection & feedback as predictors
16:30 Raymond Chegedua Tangonyire – Leadership practices & teacher learning
16:50 Nowell Chidakwa – Rural-origin students in TTCs
17:10 Peter Mtika – Attracting primary teachers to rural Malawi
Session chairs: Claude Karegeya / Alphonse Uworwabayeho
💡 ROOM B: Educational Technology & IEECE
13:20 Pascal Nzubahimana – 5E Hands-on Classroom for Trigonometric Equations
13:40 Immaculee Uwingabire – Multimedia learning for quadratic functions
14:00 Ugorji I. Ogbonnaya – Promoting Resilient Mathematical Thinking
15:10 Ntalindwa Theoneste – Distributed Multi-Server Architecture for Moodle
15:30 Wisdom Kwaku Agbevanu – Floods, conflict & foundational literacy in Ghana
15:50 Emmah Chitekwe – Parental support for learners with intellectual disabilities
16:10 Jackline Lwile – Learning through Play
16:30 Pascasie Nyirahabimana – Inclusive Education as driver of quality
16:50 Donata Uwimanimpaye – Community-based model for SEN
17:10 James Maizere – Evaluating TTC school attachment in SEN
Session chairs: Mathias Nduwingoma / Joseph Kubwimana
🤝 ROOM C: IACSI & Languages
13:20 Harriet Ayiorwoth – Bridging knowledge sharing between HE & industry in Uganda
13:40 Florence K. Maranga – Transferable skills for TVET female graduates (Kenya)
14:00 Sibusiso Sibanda – Strengthening Industry–Academia Partnerships in Africa
14:20 Cyprien Ntagungira – External stakeholder engagement PDD at UR-CE
15:10 Pascasie Nyirahabimana – Institutional collaboration HEP-TED Rwanda–Finland
15:30 Pravda Mfurankunda – Digital & language-based civic education
15:50 Kenneth Mukau – Barriers to English proficiency
16:10 Anastasie Uwababyeyi – Guiding model for English instruction
16:30 Nezandonyi Tinashe – Language-in-education policy Zimbabwe/Rwanda
16:50 Jean Paul Ngoboka – Sound symbolism (Ideophones in Kinyarwanda)
17:10 Emmanuel Niyirora – Creative thinking through Kiswahili literature
Session chairs: Balthelemy Bizimana / Epimaque Niyibizi
⚙️ ROOM D: Leadership, Policy & TPD
13:20 Jean Paul Uzabakiriho – Gender Transformative Ecosystem Leadership Model
13:40 Khalid Idris – Developing professionalism in teacher education (Rwanda/Eritrea)
14:00 Irénée Ndayambaje – Educational Leadership Research in Rwanda (2019-2024)
14:20 Íris Santos – Science-Driven Quality Assurance Framework (Rwanda’s participatory approach)
15:10 Willmore Chingwena – Aligning Competence-Based Curriculum in Rwandan TTCs
15:30 Alphonse Uworwabayeho – Implementation of Rwanda’s professional standards
15:50 Irénée Ndayambaje – Rethinking leadership capacity in Rwandan HE
16:10 Kinza Arif – Early use of teacher self-assessment
16:30 Samuel Yaw Ampofo – Headteachers' supervisory roles
16:50 Valens Ngarukiye – Challenges integrating Bloom’s taxonomy
17:10 Janvière Mukamwezi – Leadership practices & support systems at UR-CE
Session chairs: Philothere Ntawiha / Veneranda Kayirangwa
✅ Health break 14:40–15:10. Full coverage of all 38+ oral presentations.
Day 2 — Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Theme: From Professional Development to Classroom Practices: Strengthening Pedagogical Approaches and Support for STEM Teachers
| Time | Activity | Responsible / Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00–9:15 | Opening remarks | UR-CE Principal |
| 9:15–9:30 | Symposium 2 Overview | QBEHCD Coordinator |
| 9:30–10:00 | Plenary 1: Designing Effective PD Systems for Transformative STEM Teaching | Jee-Peng Tan (World Bank) |
| 10:00–10:30 | Plenary 2: Leveraging Project-Based Learning to Advance Competency-Based Curriculum | Prof. Wole SOBOYEJO (President SUNY POLY) |
| 10:30–11:00 | Health Break | |
| 11:00–11:30 | Plenary 3: Professional development in innovative teaching Maths and Science | Prof. Pheneas Nkundabakura |
| 11:30–12:15 | Panel Discussion: From Training to Classroom Transformation – What Works and What Next? | Jee-Peng Tan, Dinae Uwamariya, Eric Iyamuremye, Prof. Pheneas Nkundabakura, Lilian Mutesi, Dr Flora Mutegwaraba (REB) |
| 12:15–13:50 | Exhibition & Poster: Student PBL outputs, teacher instructional materials, digital tools | Students & Teachers, QBE Team |
| 13:50–14:00 | LUNCH | |
STEM Parallel Sessions (14:00–16:40)
🔬 ROOM A: STEM Education
Aloys Iyamuremye – Impact of CPD on primary six learning outcomes
Pheneas Nkundabakura – Influence of CPD on STEM subject combination interest
Patrick Muneza – School managers as change agents for environmental conservation
Aquinata Agonga – Government implementation of STEM in Kenya's CBC
Jeannette Muterampundu – School mechanisms sustaining CPD in innovative teaching
Odutola Odubanjo – Practitioner inquiry for gender-responsive pedagogy
Pheneas Nkundabakura – Long-term impact on teachers' content knowledge
Chair: Prof. Mugabo Leon
🧪 ROOM B: STEM Pedagogy & Resources
Gerard Tuyizere – Influence of modernized teaching resources on STEM interest
Faustin Nduwayezu – Enhancing science process skills through lab experiments
Joseph Dzavo – Policy & pedagogy complexities in science & maths education
Theophile Musengimana – Systematic physics problem-solving strategy
Servilien Bimenyimana – Incorporating generative AI in mathematics teaching
Jean Paul Harerimana – Awareness & usage of GenAI tools among university students
Chair: Olivier Habimana
📊 ROOM C: STEM Innovation & Assessment
Ezechiel Nsabayezu – Longitudinal evaluation of PD intervention (maths & science)
Yvonne Ndikumana – Teaching biotechnology at UR-CST: challenges & jigsaw intervention
Emmanuel Bizimana – Six years of Rwandan STEM CBC implementation & gender outcomes
Abubakar Sadiq Bello – Re-shaping mathematics education through STEM for SD
Jean Claude Gasana – Assessing conceptual understanding of Newtonian mechanics
Richard Simango – Transforming science equipment management in Rwandan schools
Chair: Marcellin Rutegwa
💡 ROOM D: STEM & ICT Innovation
Immaculee Uwingabire – Supporting quadratic functions via multimedia
Fidele Ukobizaba – Enhancing maths instruction through PBL for upper primary
Jean Baptiste Mushimiyimana – ICT integration in Rwandan TTCs
Kwaku Darko Amponsah – Reimagining sustainable futures: STEM pipeline attrition in Ghana
Abraham Vukama – Triggering inquiry via discrepant events in chemistry teacher education
Barthelemy Bizimana – Reimagining sustainable assessment futures: addressing exam trauma at UR-CE
Onesme Niyibizi – Human–AI co-teaching on geometry learning
Chair: Innocente Uwineza
Health break 15:20–16:00. Full STEM programme captured.
Day 3 — Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Symposium 3: Evaluating a Culturally Adapted Whole-School Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Child and Adolescent Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00–9:10 | Opening remarks | Assoc. Prof. Micheal Tusiime |
| 9:10–9:20 | Symposium 3 Overview | Coordinator |
| 9:20–10:50 | Plenary: Evaluating a Culturally Adapted Whole-School Mindfulness Intervention | Dr. Catherine Francis (Virtual) |
| 09:50–10:35 | Panel Discussion: Transforming School Wellbeing through Mindfulness | Dr Eric Remera, Prof Clementine Kanazayire, Assoc Prof Darius Gishoma, Dr Awoke Mihretu (AAU/Ethiopia) |
| 10:35–11:00 | Health Break | |
Parallel Sessions (11:00–12:40)
🧘 ROOM A: NIHR (Mental Health & Mindfulness)
Pamela Abbott – Critical realist synthesis of school-based mindfulness interventions
Ali Kaleeba – Developing & delivering school-based mindfulness in Sub-Saharan Africa
Ivan Gahima – Child & adolescent mental health: political economy analysis in Rwanda
Kibur Engdawork – Structures & mechanisms for school-based mindfulness in Ethiopia
Chair: Clarisse Simbi
🤖 ROOM B: AI & Educational Transformation
Iradukunda Moise – From archive to impact: AI-integrated pedagogy in African HE
Edmore Chingwe – Toward an Ubuntu-centred AI: reimagining educational transformation
Nyasha Cefas Zimuto – Language education in the age of generative AI: ethics & co-learning
Pierre Celestin Bimenyimana – Navigating e-learning adoption in African universities
Valerien Bimenyimana – School leaders' perceptions on AI-driven transformation in education
Chair: Jean Baptiste Mushimiyimana
📖 ROOM C: Languages & Social Sciences (LSSE)
Alphonse Benegusenga – Phonics instruction & early grade Kinyarwanda reading competence
Baluku Syllevast – Linking devices and narrative writing quality (Uganda)
Chair: Dorothy Tukahabwa
📌 ROOM D: TPD, IEECE & Leadership
Pacifique Idahemuka – Transformational leadership shaping parental involvement
James Maizere – Open and distance e-learning for special needs education (Eastern Province)
Jean Bosco Nshimiyimana – Teachers' competencies for learners with cerebral palsy
Policy and Leadership studies segment (Research networking)
Chair: Francois Nkurunziza
13:00 – CLOSING CEREMONY & LUNCH.