EQIP

"Enhancing Quality and Internationalization of Study Programme Through Mobile Transformative Pedagogy” (EQIP) project (EQIP )is a 5 -year project ( 2019-2023) funded by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (Diku). The project was developed in 2018 and started its operations in January 2021. EQIP works between University of Agder (Norway), University of Makerere (Uganda) and University of Rwanda.

The main goal of EQIP is to increase employability of generation graduates through student and staff mobility, internationalization of study programmes and promotion of transformative pedagogy.

In a quest to achieve this goal EQIP assigned herself the following specific objectives :
• To review curricula and educational methods for selected study programmes and courses at MAK, UR and UiA to facilitate student mobility, credit transfer and alignment with the requirements of the global job market.
• To increase faculty competence for developing and delivering flexible and engaging curricula relevant for the 21st century global job market
• To establish and implement a framework for mutual student mobility to undertake select courses work.
• Placements, field work and research within partner countries to enable co-creation of knowledge and solutions for the society of the present and the future.
• To establish and implement a framework for mutual staff mobility to create and deliver joint courses, co-supervise students’ projects to produce globally competitive graduates with a global mindset as part of their professional and social culture.
• Sustainability, environment, gender perspectives and inclusion and mutual respect.

EQIP Accomplished activities in 2022.
Following the above objectives, EQIP has achieved important milestones for the year 2022.

1.Online information dissemination through EQIP Webpage

To facilitate information dissemination about the project, a webpage for EQIP was created on the University of Rwanda-College of Education( UR-CE) Website University accessible through https://ce.ur.ac.rw/EQIP.
1. Advertisement and selection of students for virtual program exchange
EQIP conducted an advertisement and selection from 12 UR Students (CE&CST) to do a virtual exchange at the University of Agder this autumn. They followed the courses of Interaction Design (9 students), Communication, Cooperation & Research Methods ( 3 students).
2. Consultation Workshop for credit Transfer System
A consultation workshop for credit transfer system was organized and held EQIP experts and partner institution. As result the system has been captured in the Policy for Postgraduate studies at University of Rwanda.
3. Supervision of master’s students
Makerere University and University of Rwanda academic staff co-supervised master thesis for University of Rwanda-College of Science and technology (UR-CST) students in ICT School.
4. Students Recruitment for Physical Exchange Program
Three (3) students (2 from UR- CST and 1 from UR-CE) who were recruited at the end of 2021 participated in physical Exchange program at UiA from January 2022 for 6 months. They succeeded to write their thesis and defended them during their stay at University of Agder.
5. Students Recruitment for Virtual Exchange program
Students conducted a Virtual Exchange program at University of Agder from January 2022. The following table shows the students selected for Exchange program at College of Science and Technology from January to June 2022 in physical and virtual manner.
6. Graduate Tracer Study Framework and Employer Satisfaction Survey Framework
A Graduate Tracer Study Framework and Employer Satisfaction Survey Framework for the UR-CE master’s programme in Curriculum and Instruction review.
7. Workshop on Postgraduate Program

A workshop was organized on the support to postgraduate programmes where we conducted a Graduate tracer study and employer satisfaction survey frameworks for master’s programme in Educational Leadership and Management (ELM).

8. Data Analysis for Curriculum and Instruction Program Review
A data analysis was conducted for the Curriculum and Instruction programme review and Master of Leadership Management in Education at College of Education.

9. Preparation of Master Student Mobility from Norway to Global
For Master Student Mobility from Norway to Global, UR-CST found local institutions in Rwanda to host students from UiA : 2 businesses identified and accepted to host a Norwegian student Q2-2022. Unfortunately, no candidate was found from UiA. As mitigation strategy, for the future, a concept note explaining the problems in the the Rwanda’s industries that the students from AiU can solve will be prepared at the beginning of the year and share it with our partners in UiA.
10. Students Exchange programme
A Follow-up of the Students Exchange programme was made for UR students to go at Makerere University. They completed the Interview, and 3 students were scheduled to go at Makerere University in January 2023. They are from the College of Science and Technology, School of ICT, in Masters of Software Engineering, master’s degree in Information Systems option of E-governance and Master’s of Science in Information Systems : Internet Technology. As a result of a long process recruitment started in 2022, four (4) students were selected for the following theme :
–  The role of E-government Services in Rwandan Legal System in rural areas, and the proposed Rwanda E-lawyer system.
–  Assessing the awareness level of cybersecurity on undergraduate students at University of Rwanda College of Science and Technology (UR-CST). Case study of Nyarugenge Campus ; and
–  Investigating e-learning implementation challenges in University of Rwanda : The College of science and technology experience.

11. Follow -up on finalization of the reports for tracer study of the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Follow-up on the finalization of the reports for tracer study of the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. This programme has been validated at departmental level.

12. Organization of a Workshop to Review the Master of Education in Educational Leader

A workshop was organized to review the Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Management programme. The workshop achieved activities the following activities :
–  development of the graduate tracer study framework
–  development of the employer satisfaction survey framework
–  elaborate of data collection instruments for graduate tracer study
–  elaboration of data collection instruments for employer satisfaction survey
–  Preparation of the piloting of the instruments
–  Review of ELM and CI programmes
– 

13. Discussion about the credit transfer

Discussions were held about the credit transfer for postgraduate programmes. Recommendations were made for the review of postgraduate academic regulations.

14. Review of Master’s of Education in ELM and Curriculum and Instruction

The Masters of Education in ELM and Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) programmes .
20 modules have been reviewed and are going to be uploaded on UR eLearning platform with their storyboard
15. Review of Master of Education in Special Needs Education
Master of Education in Special Needs Education was reviewed following the findings of graduate tracer study and employer satisfaction frameworks developed for that purpose.

Postgraduate programme activities supported by EPIQ are summarized as follows :
–  development of data graduate tracer study frameworks and employer satisfaction framework – Curriculum and Instruction ;
–  graduate tracer study frameworks and employer satisfaction framework – Curriculum and Instruction ;
–  review of current master’s programme in Education (Educational Leadership and Management) by first conducting a graduate tracer study together with employer
satisfaction survey ;
–  Credit transfer ;
–  graduate tracer study and employer satisfaction survey frameworks for master’s
programme in Educational Leadership and Management ELM)and review of ELM and Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) programmes plus development of programme specification and proposals.
Progress : (i) Module description (11 modules), programme proposal and specification for Curriculum and Instruction completed (only last reading for harmonising all documents needed) ; (iii) Tracer study and employer satisfaction surveys for Curriculum and ELM completed – only harmonization of both documents to be done (iii) Module description for ELM in progress – first draft submitted to task leader. However, programme proposal, specification and harmonization are remaining.

It is worth noting that the Postgraduate unit at College of Education expressed the needs of other activities to be supported. Depending on funds availability, the following activities will also be supported :
–  Postgraduate Research Seminar (special focus on use of software for data
analysis) ;
–  Training of academic staff members on online assessment, and
–  Advanced training in multimedia production to make their modules more
interactive
Finally, in collaboration with UR SPIU management and on the request from
University of Agder, repayment of unused funds was facilitated.

Source : Annual Progress Report of the project “Enhancing Quality and Internationalization of Study Programme Through Mobile Transformative Pedagogy (EQIP)” from January 1 up to 31 December 2022

By

NTIRANDEKURA Schadrac
Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer
University of Rwanda-College of Education