SUMMARY

 CREATION AND AGREEMENT

Kigali Independent University (ULK) is a higher Institution of learning. It was created on 15^th March, 1996 by the Rwandan Association for the Promotion of Education and Culture (ARPEC), which has become “Association ULK”. This University was accepted by the Convention n° 001/98 of 02/02/1998 with the Government of the Republic of Rwanda. Association ULK acquired its legal status by the ministerial order number 013/17 in June 7^th, 2002.

VISION

ULK is destined to stand out as a remarkable university for excellence at the heart of Africa with highly motivated students and a higher qualify personnel endowed with elevated ethic values. ULK also takes pride in its very modern infrastructures and equipments and endeavours to perfectly fulfil its mission before God.

MISSION

The fundamental mission of ULK is to provide the people with a training which may enable them to become actors and organizers of a complete development of our nation. In this respect, research work is basically focussed on topics of local, national and regional interests.

So far as research is concerned, in 2008 ULK possesses a directorate of Research and Consultancy for fulfilling research mission and which edits a four-monthly scientific review which

publishes articles related to Rwanda current issues as well as those regarding the sub-region, Africa and the world which is at its 12^th issue. ULK organised also conferences for national, regional and international interests.

SOCIAL MISSION

Despite ULK’s statute of “private institution”, meaning that it functions using its own means, ULK takes patience and allows gradual payments from students who don’t have the capacity to pay the fees at once. Furthermore, RWIGAMBA BALINDA’s FOUNDATION assists students deprived of financial capacities with a grant (a loan), without any interest at Gisenyi Campus as well as in Kigali. Since its creation in 2001 up to now, the Foundation has granted bursaries to 1620 students so as they might complete the 4 years of university studies.

PHILOSOPHY OF ULK

ULK Philosophy is based on principles of having faith in God; Having positive thinking and Living ethical values.

MOTTO AND VALUES OF ULK

The Motto of ULK is: “Science and Conscience”. Its fundamental values are Integrity, Humility, Determination and Excellence

OBJECTIVES

ULK has established the following objectives:

• ULK has established the following objectives:

• Providing students with solid scientific and intellectual education.

• Conducting and promoting research in all areas pertaining to science, technology as well as the country’s different issues.

• Serving the community;

• Creating potential of competent human resources, endowed with strong moral, civic and political values;

• Holding conferences and seminars in the field of teaching and research.

ORGANS

• The Founder and President Office

• The Board of Directors

• The Academic Senate

• The Executive Council

• The Faculty Council

• The Department Council

FINANCING

Up to the date, ULK has never benefited from any financial support whatever. It chiefly operates thanks to the financial contribution of its Founder, thanks to bank credits and modest academic fees paid by students, which vary between 100,000 (180$US) and 220,000Frw (390$US) every term or every four months. However let us observe that the University has also benefited from NUFFIC 12 bursaries ,140 computers and 200 books.

INFRASTRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT

In a few words, let us note that ULK is endowed with enough and adequate infrastructures and equipment.

ULK has made asphalt on its boulevard linking two main entrances of Kigali Campus, 349 brand new computers as well as 4 generators including one of 200 KVA, 21 vehicles, etc.

In 2008 ULK bought 6 896 titles which gave a total of 51 537 titles among whom 35 537 at Kigali Campus and 16 000 at Gisenyi Campus.

Our system of teaching is oriented towards the finalizing and professionalism. It is that way that ULK opened two centers of Computers where students are taught on new technology of Computer and communication.

EXTENSION OF ULK/GISENYI

In its activities extension project in other provinces of the country, ULK has opened, since the academic year 2001-2002, its Gisenyi Campus. In 2008, the Campus currently holds 2 886 students.

ULK/Gisenyi has erected some buildings which house lecturing auditoriums, a multi-purpose hall, an administrative block and one guest house for visiting lecturers and a hostel for students who come from far, a library of 16 000 titles, 49 computers, etc.

ULK/Gisenyi operates as a totally autonomous academic entity since its inception.

Below are the reasons for the opening of ULK /Gisenyi :

• The existence of more than 50 secondary schools in the North and Western provinces of Rwanda.

• The closing of some higher institutions of learning in the same region due to the tragic events of 1994.

• The demand and support of local authority and population of the same place.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The achievements of ULK, during thirteen years of its existence are outstanding. However, the University expects to.go.further in its development activities in matter of infrastructures, training of the teaching staff, etc. RWIGAMBA BALINDA Foundation has so far provided postgraduate studies scholarships to 46 assistant – lecturers. All of them have already completed their master’s programmes, but two more have gone for the same programmes at the Kwazulu-Natal University. Eleven lecturers have already undertaken the PhD programmes. Below are the main universities which have provided admission to ULK’s prospective Master’s and Doctorate’s students: University of Kwazulu Natal, University of Pretoria, Tswane University of Technology, Wits University, Moi University, Makerere University, Université Catholique de Louvain, University of Ireland, Université de Lyon and some universities of the Netherlands.

In 2008 academic year, ULK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Makerere University and Kyambogo University. Talks are going on to sign Memorandum of Understanding with Tulane, Open University of Tanzania, Universtité de Rome III, Université Libre de Bruxelles, etc.

ULK is a founder member of African Union of Private Universities (AUPU) founded in 2008 and which has seat at Cairo /Egypt. ULK plays a big role in organisation of « Association Rwandaise d’Institutions Privées d’Enseignement Supérieur » (ARIPES) and in « Conseil des Recteurs des Institutions Privées d’Enseignement Supérieur » (CRIPES) meetings.

LANGUAGE CENTRE

From the very start, ULK opened a language centre to address language challenges of our country.

FACULTIES

For Kigali campus, ULK comprises 4 faculties, notably:

Regarding Gisenyi Campus, ULK comprises 3 faculties notably:

For Kigali campus, ULK comprises 4 faculties, notably:

• The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, with 2 Departments: Economics, Management.

• The Faculty of Law.

• The Faculty of Social Sciences with 3 Departments namely Sociology, Administrative Sciences and Demography.

• Faculty of Science and Technology with one Department : Computer Sciences.

Regarding Gisenyi Campus, ULK comprises 3 faculties notably:

• The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, with 2 Departments: Management and Rural Development,

• The Faculty of Law, and

• The Faculty of Social Sciences with 2 Departments namely Sociology and Administrative Sciences.

From 2009 academic year, the programmes of courses at ULK are given in English. New courses programmes based on modules are taught in all first years. They have been approved by University academic Organs and by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) for Rwanda.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

The number of students in ULK in 2009 raised at 10 662 split as follows:

* ULK/KIGALI: 8 240 students among whom: 3 596 male students (representing 44%) and 4 644 female students (representing 56%)

* ULK/GISENYI: 2 422 students among whom : 1 384 male students (representing 57.15%), 1 038 female students (representing 42.85%)

THE TEACHING STAFF

The ULK teaching staff for the 2 campuses is presented as follows:

- Professors: 6

- Associate Professors: 23

- Senior Lecturers: 69

- Lecturers: 92

- Assistant Lecturers: 46

Total: 236

SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2008

ULK/Kigali has already organised five academic graduation ceremonies. The first one took place in October 2002 for 133 licence degree holders (A₀) and the second one in March 2006 for 1482 licence degree recipients (A₀), the third one in September 2007 for 1950 laureates, the fourth one in March 2008 for 1570 laureates and the fifth one in March 2009 for 1337.

ULK Gisenyi Campus has already organised three academic graduation ceremonies. The first one took place in September 2007 for 326 licence degree holders (A₀), the second one in March 2008 for 340 licence degree recipients (A₀), and the third one in March 2009 for 398 laureates.

The global total of licence degrees for the two campuses (Kigali /Gisenyi) since their inception is 7536 graduands.

In addition to education, which outstands as its chief mission, ULK assumes two other important missions; namely research and services to the community.

So far as research is concerned, in 2008 ULK possesses a directorate of Research and Consultancy for fullfilling research mission and which edits a four-monthly scientific review which publishes articles related to Rwanda current issues as well as those regarding the sub-region, Africa and the world which is at its 12th issue. ULkK organized also conferences for national, regional and international interests.

IIn 2008, two issues of this scientific review were released at ULK. ULkK also edits a four-monthly information bulletin known as ULK/Magazine, which is at its 13th issue.

Concerning Consultancy, ULK has signed two contracts. In order to empower a good cooperation of ULK with other institutions, since January 2009, cooperation is one of the components of the directorate of research and consultancy.

In 2008, ULK has participated in different services to the community like holding different conferences of several public and private authorities like the one of Minister Joseph Habimana, Prof Hiroyuki Hamaguchi, Brigadier General Jerome Ngendahimana, Pastor Jean Jacques Badidika, Hon. Polisi Denis, etc.

ULK participated in various ceremonies like one of commemorating Genocide against Tutsi in Nyamata, participating in preparations of elections of the members of the Youth National Council Forum, Farming international Day organised by MINISPOC on September 8, 2008, reforestation on Tree International Day on november 24, 2008 at Gicumbi Mountain, supporting on vulnerable women association of Gisozi, reception of different meetings organized at Gisozi stadium, etc..

 CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE ULK BACHELOR'S DEGREE GRADUANDS (A0) STATISTICS SINCE ITS CREATION (KIGALI AND GISENYI CAMPUS)