INES-Ruhengeri conferred degrees on 1,729 graduates on Thursday, October 30, during its 18th graduation ceremony held in Musanze District, with leaders urging the new degree holders to create jobs rather than wait for them.
The Institute of Applied Sciences awarded 1,634 bachelor's degrees and 95 master's degrees to Rwandan and international students, according to KT PRESS. The ceremony carried a clear message: Rwanda's youth must turn knowledge into enterprise, and the discipline learned in lecture halls must now build the nation.
A National Ambition Measured in Jobs
Dr. Olivier Habimana, Director in charge of Technology and Research at the Higher Education Council, reminded graduates that the country expects 1.25 million new jobs by 2029, and that government vacancies alone cannot absorb the numbers.
As we have said, the country has an ambitious vision. By 2029, we are expected to have created 1.25 million new jobs. All these jobs will require innovation, he said.
He noted that government institutions, despite being among the country's largest employers, have limited vacancies, and urged graduates to use their skills to establish businesses and employ others.
To make progress, we ask graduates to create their own jobs. This is also what they have been trained to do. We also challenge INES-Ruhengeri to continue investing in laboratories, classrooms and teaching staff to strengthen its practical training programs, Habimana said.
Degrees as Passports, Not Guarantees
Vital Rugwiza, who completed his studies in Law, said a university degree should be viewed as a passport to different opportunities rather than a guarantee of a particular career.
Among the advice we received, we were told that completing our studies here is like being given a passport that will help us reach different destinations. It should not dictate what we must do. Rather, we should use it to choose different paths in life that are beneficial to us, he said.
Rugwiza said he intends to use his legal knowledge to address injustice and rights violations in communities, and he urged his fellow graduates to look beyond traditional office jobs toward business creation.
Rising Demand for Rwandan Education
Fr. Dr. Jean Bosco Baribeshya, Vice-Chancellor of INES-Ruhengeri, said the growing number of graduates reflects the institution's expansion and rising demand for its programs, driven by consistent improvements in the quality of education.
We are happy that student numbers are increasing, but what makes us even happier is that the quality of education we provide is increasingly meeting the expectations of employers, he said.
The university says it is strengthening its focus on applied sciences, technology and research aimed at practical solutions, with priorities including expanded infrastructure, more laboratories and classrooms, more teaching staff and academic programs aligned with labor market needs. The New Times reported that the institution is also expanding postgraduate education, with the latest ceremony including the first cohorts of new master's programs.
International Students Carry Rwanda's Name Abroad
The graduating class included students from across Africa, among them Deborah Yar Makuei of South Sudan, who described completing her studies in Rwanda as a personal achievement and a source of pride for her family and her country.
During my first week of classes, things were difficult because I did not know Kinyarwanda. However, I gradually adapted by interacting with my Rwandan classmates, who are welcoming and friendly people, she recalled.
Makuei encouraged other international students to consider Rwanda as a study destination, citing its cleanliness, security and welcoming environment. Her testimony reflects the country's ambition, noted by education officials at the ceremony, to become a regional education hub where international graduates return home carrying skills and goodwill learned in Rwanda.
Parents Call for Continued Discipline
For parents, the ceremony rewarded years of sacrifice. Paulo Gumiriza Mugunga, a parent who attended, said seeing so many young people graduate filled families with pride, but reminded graduates that education never ends.
As parents, today is a day of joy because we have seen so many young people complete their studies. However, we know very well that the journey of education does not end here because learning is a continuous process, he said.
He said parents would continue supporting their children toward master's and doctoral studies, and urged graduates to remain disciplined and committed to hard work as they enter professional life.
Why Graduates Face a Demanding Market
The challenge facing these graduates is real. Employment data tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on recent college graduates shows that young degree holders worldwide often face a harder labor market than the broader workforce, a pattern that strengthens the case for entrepreneurship as a first option rather than a fallback.
Rwanda's answer, voiced at Musanze on October 30, is the one that rebuilt the country after 1994: self-reliance, discipline and work. The 1,729 graduates now carry that responsibility, and the country will measure their success not in certificates earned but in jobs created and problems solved.
FAQ
How many students graduated from INES-Ruhengeri in 2026?
1,729 students graduated on October 30, 2026, comprising 1,634 bachelor's degree holders and 95 master's degree graduates.
What message did officials deliver to the graduates?
Officials, including Dr. Olivier Habimana of the Higher Education Council, urged graduates to create their own jobs and businesses rather than relying on limited government vacancies.
What is Rwanda's national employment target?
Rwanda aims to create 1.25 million new jobs by 2029, which officials say will require innovation and entrepreneurship from graduates.
Did the ceremony include international students?
Yes, the graduating class included students from other African countries, including Deborah Yar Makuei of South Sudan, who praised Rwanda's welcoming study environment.