As complaints continue to arise from students at the University of Rwanda (UR) over the lack of access to proper field trips, Dr. Raymond NDIKUMANA, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Institutional Development and Governance at UR, has reassured that efforts are underway to help students connect theory to practice through field visits and other essential academic support.
The University of Rwanda, the country’s largest public university, was established in 2013 following the merger of the former National University of Rwanda with several other government higher education institutions. The university admits thousands of students each year across its various colleges, most of whom study through a government loan scheme. In addition to a majority of Rwandan students, UR also hosts international students from different parts of Africa.
In a bid to enhance the quality of education and ensure students apply what they learn, Dr. NDIKUMANA stated that the university remains committed to supporting students through educational field trips and other practical learning opportunities.
He said, “These reforms at the university go beyond infrastructure — they focus on the actual value a student gains from their education. We are committed to ensuring that every student benefits from these opportunities of educational field trips and other practical learning opportunities.”
This comes at a time when several students have expressed concern that not being taken on field trips negatively affects their ability to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world situations after graduation. Speaking to “Sound of Africa”, some students shared their frustrations.
“We are learning well in class, but when it comes time for field trips, I wouldn’t say that school field trips are poorly organized, but their implementation is still very limited. This has consequences after graduation, as some students lack the practical skills to apply what they have learned. It really affects us later because we leave university having only theoretical knowledge, without the ability to apply it practically.” Said one student.
They emphasized the importance of strengthening support for field trips, stating:
“We ask that more effort be put into ensuring we get field trip opportunities. They help us understand and practice what we are taught in class.”
These concerns follow recent unrest involving students at UR’s Busogo campus, where some reportedly refused to take exams, citing their exclusion from a scheduled field trip. However, a university spokesperson Ignatius KABAGAMBE, clarified that the students were not unhappy about missing the trip, but rather dissatisfied with the destination chosen.
