By Enock Sithole
Rwandan journalism and communication educators have launched the Rwanda Journalism Education Network (RJEN), which plans to engage with the media industry to align journalism education with job market needs and improve journalism standards in the country.
There are four universities teaching journalism in Rwanda, and there are approximately 400 students studying journalism and communication in the four institutions, said University of Rwanda (UR) lecturer and RJEN president, Reverend Jean-Pierre Uwimana.
RJEN will affiliate with the African Journalism Education Network and seek to facilitate international collaboration and curriculum exchange, said Reverend Uwimana.
RJEN brought together journalism and communication lecturers from the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi, Mount Kigali University, and the East African University of Rwanda.
The network’s executive committee comprises Reverend Uwimana, Andrew Nyanyuki Onsongo, first vice-president, Joyce Kirabo, second vice-president, Jeanne Mukamana and Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, treasurer.
Journalism education in Rwanda was highly regarded, and graduates often found employment in the country’s media, the government and the corporate sector working as communicators.
Reverend Uwimana said that although universities tried hard to prepare journalists for the work environment, the constant changes in technology meant that they had to keep on catching up with developments in the media sector.
Students in the four universities learn to practice journalism in English, French, Ikinyarwanda and KiSwahili.
The article, Rwandan Academics Launch Journalism Education Network, was originally published by Ajen newslettter on April, 7 2025