Rwanda has once again placed itself at the forefront of education transformation in Africa, hosting The Education Collaborative’s June Convening—a four-day gathering of university leaders, student changemakers, and policymakers from across the continent. Held at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali from June 17 to 20, 2025, the convening aims to shift the spotlight back to where it belongs: the student.
Under the theme “Re-centering Student Development: Reflecting, Mobilizing, and Aligning for a Transformational Student Experience,” this year’s convening sets an urgent, reflective, and action-oriented tone. It calls on institutions to move beyond traditional approaches, placing student well-being, leadership, and real-world readiness at the core of higher education reform.
The opening day was marked by the Higher Education Stakeholder Symposium, which featured Rwanda’s Minister of Education, Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, who called upon higher institutions to evolve.
“Higher education institutions should evolve from traditional mandates and serve as a catalyst for innovation,” he stated.
Through student testimonials, keynote speeches, strategy sessions, and panel discussions, the convening provides a dynamic platform to explore pressing issues such as mental health, equitable access to academic resources, student leadership, and post-graduate employability.
Day one focused on reflection, an inward look at what is working, what isn’t, and how institutions can adjust course. In the days ahead, the focus will shift to mobilization and alignment, equipping attendees with tools and partnerships to drive systemic change within their institutions.
For the hundreds gathered in Kigali, from educators and student leaders to entrepreneurs and government officials, this is more than just a conference. It is a movement to rethink, reconnect, and reimagine the future of higher education across Africa.
