The move to rebrand one of the country’s top universities-Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR) sparked curiosity across Rwanda’s education circles, with many wondering what could have motivated the shift.
The development, occurring in June 2023, followed years of the institution’s unwavering process to carve out of its Kenya Headquarters to an independent self-governed international university.
In a magazine entailing the aspects that prompted this bold decision, Innocent Mugisha Sebasaza, chairman Mount Kigali University (MKU) council stated that there was a need to align the institution with the Rwandan identity.
“The change to MKU reflects Rwanda’s pride and resonates well with the country’s identity. It gives the university a local identity while retaining all the attributes that set it apart from other institutions,” he remarked. Adding that Mountain Kigali is a prominent landmark in Rwanda that lends historical and cultural significance to the university’s new name.
A year later, MKU magazine cross examines the impact this tremendous milestone has had on its audience-students and other stakeholders.
Chuma Taffi, a second-year journalism student, inserts that the change reinforced a deeper connection to Rwanda, expanding the number of both local and international students at the university.
Unlike Chuma, Karemera Kevin, an undergraduate commerce student raised concern of how the rebranding has deprived the university of its appeal as an international institution.
“While the rebranding has attracted more Rwandan students, I feel it has reduced the perception of the university as an international institution. It now feels more local,” he announced.
Henry Musisi, the university’s Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, however reassured the likes of Karemera that the switch’s benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Primarily, the development facilitates smoother operations above anything.
“Previously, Kigali campus students had to travel to Kenya for graduation since the campus operated under MKU’s main campus in Thika, Kenya. Becoming a standalone institution is a new beginning, has made both learning and graduation easier,” he explained.
He further established that MKU will religiously invest in key areas like the School of Business, Health training and research, and hospitality and tourism, with a focus on producing graduates with relevant employability skills.
Photos by Regis Gatari
Article contributions by @uwera-patrick and @[email protected]
