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UR-CE academic staff and school-based mentors actively engage in a quality assurance and mentorship training session alongside Finnish partners during the HEP-TED workshop on quality assurance at Rukara Campus.

Kayonza, 19 May 2025 — The University of Rwanda – College of Education (UR-CE) in collaboration with Finnish partners under the Higher Education Pedagogies for Teacher Education (HEP-TED) project held a workshop on quality assurance in competence-based training and mentorship of pre-service teachers at its Rukara Campus. The event brought together UR-CE academic staff and school-based mentors from partner secondary schools to reflect on the improvement of quality in teacher education through pedagogy enhancement.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Florien Nsanganwimana, Acting Principal of UR-CE, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of continuous collaboration to enhance quality assurance in the training of future teachers. “We are particularly pleased to welcome our Finnish partners and the mentors from cooperative schools who play a critical role in supervising our student teachers during school attachment,” Prof. Nsanganwimana stated. “Your feedback and reflection on the quality of our pre-service training are vital to improving how we prepare our future educators.”

The workshop was part of a broader HEP-TED agenda aimed at fostering sustainable quality cultures in teacher education through shared learning between Rwandan and Finnish higher learning institutions. The project, running from January 2024 to August 2026, focuses on improving institutional management, implementing inclusive pedagogical approaches, and integrating theory and practice in teacher preparation.

Participants included UR-CE lecturers, quality assurance personnel, and school mentors who support student teachers during school attachment. The discussions covered the meaning of quality education in higher education and secondary schools, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats using a SWOT analysis framework. The workshop encouraged cross-functional group work to promote diverse perspectives and collaborative solutions.

In an interview, Dr. Barthélemy Bizimana, Head of the Department of Foundations, Management, and Curriculum Studies at UR-CE and HEP-TED Key Pedagogical Expert, explained the rationale behind inviting mentors : “School mentors are integral to quality assurance because they work closely with pre-service teachers during their most practical and formative training phase. Their insights on what works and what needs improvement are essential.”

Dr. Barthélemy Bizimana, Head of the Department of Foundations, Management, and Curriculum Studies at UR-CE and HEP-TED Key Pedagogical Expert during the interview

Participants identified several strengths in the current system, including increased access to education, policy frameworks guiding teacher training, and growing integration of ICT. However, challenges were also highlighted, such as large class sizes, heavy workloads, limited flexibility in policy implementation, and weak collaboration between universities and schools.

The workshop emphasized the need to strengthen stakeholder involvement in decision-making, improve communication, and uphold integrity in the implementation of quality standards. “The challenges are real,” Dr. Bizimana added, “and this workshop awakened us to reflect on our own practices and commit to continuous improvement.”

In his closing remarks, Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa, HEP-TED Project Coordinator, commended the participants for their active engagement and openness. “At the very least, this workshop has helped us develop a clearer, shared understanding of what quality education truly means in the context of teacher training,” he noted. “This kind of dialogue is crucial for building strong, sustainable education systems.”

Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa, HEP-TED Project Coordinator during his closing remarks

The outcomes of the workshop will inform future capacity-building activities under the HEP-TED framework, with a shared commitment to strengthening internal QA tools and promoting competency-based, inclusive teacher education in Rwanda.

Story by
NTIRANDEKURA Schadrac
Public Relations and Community Engagement
UR-CE