The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) has called on media students at Mount Kigali University to fully utilize the state-of-the-art facilities available at the institution to sharpen their practical skills and meet the evolving demands of the modern media industry. This call was made during an official visit by RGB officials to the university’s Department of Mass Media, Film & Communication on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The visit was part of RGB’s ongoing nationwide engagement with journalism training institutions and media houses, aimed at building a more professional, free, and sustainable media sector in Rwanda. Led by Mr. Jean Bosco Rushingabigwi, Head of the Media Sector Coordination and Monitoring Department, the delegation interacted with students, faculty members, and university leadership to assess how the institution prepares future media professionals.
During the visit, the RGB delegation toured the department’s advanced training facilities, including media labs, audio-visual editing suites, and radio and TV production studios. These facilities, according to the university, were established to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical media skills, a concern often raised by media employers across the country.
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Rushingabigwi emphasized that “Mount Kigali University is among the few institutions in Rwanda with such a well-equipped media training environment. However, it is not enough to have equipment; students must actively use these tools, engage in hands-on learning, and innovate, especially in a digital-first era.”
Mr. Festus Irungu, Head of the Department of Mass Media, Film & Communication, welcomed RGB’s visit and reiterated the university’s commitment to practical-based learning. “We are proud of the facilities we have, but more importantly, we are proud of the students who take initiative to use them creatively,” he said. “We encourage our students to treat this department like a professional newsroom or studio. What they learn and produce here should reflect what they would be expected to do in the real world.”
Irungu also highlighted the department’s growing focus on multimedia and digital storytelling. “We’re constantly updating our approach to keep up with global media trends. Our students are learning to tell stories not just for radio and TV, but also for digital platforms using advanced editing software and content production tools.”
RGB’s call aligns with its broader findings from past engagements and media assessments, which highlighted key issues affecting the media sector, including a mismatch between journalism curricula and market demands, poor working conditions for media professionals, and weak financial sustainability of media outlets.
Mount Kigali University’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Martin Kimemia, reaffirmed the varsity’s commitment to delivering industry-relevant training and acknowledged the importance of practical exposure in shaping competent graduates. “We are honored by RGB’s visit and the insights shared. Our goal remains to produce graduates who are not only theoretically sound but also practically skilled and ethically grounded,” He stated.
RGB plans to compile insights from such visits into a comprehensive policy brief with recommendations for improving journalism education and the media sector in Rwanda. Mount Kigali University was the first private university visited in Kigali as part of the initiative, which also covers media houses like Igihe.com, Radio1/TV1, and BTN TV.
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