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The Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Assoc. Prof. Kayihura Muganga Didas, delivering opening remarks at the ANSWER Project Final National Conference.

The University of Rwanda today hosted a two-day Final National Conference of the ANSWER Project (Advance iNclusion for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education in Rwanda), running from 17 to 18 December 2025 at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), reaffirming its strong commitment to inclusive, equitable, and accessible higher education.

Officially opening the conference, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Assoc. Prof. Kayihura Muganga Didas, described the ANSWER Project as “more than a project”, highlighting its role as a transformative platform that has reshaped institutional thinking and practice around inclusion in higher education.
“The ANSWER Project has been a platform for learning, collaboration, innovation, and transformation. It has challenged us to rethink how our institutions plan, teach, assess, design infrastructure, deploy technology, and provide support services—so that no learner is left behind,” he said.

The conference brought together international and national partners, including delegations from the University of Alicante (Spain) and the University of Macedonia (Greece), alongside key Rwandan stakeholders such as MINEDUC, the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), INES Ruhengeri, East African University–Rwanda, Uwezo, and heads of partner institutions.

Keynote address highlights national commitment to inclusion

Mr. Emmanuel Ndayisaba, Executive Secretary of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) delivering his keynote address

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Emmanuel Ndayisaba, Executive Secretary of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), praised the ANSWER Project for strengthening Rwanda’s higher education system and translating national commitments on inclusion into concrete action across universities.

“Inclusion is not an act of charity ; it is a foundation of quality education and national development,” he said, noting the project’s contribution to assistive technologies, improved infrastructure, staff training, and inclusive policies at the University of Rwanda, INES Ruhengeri, and East African University–Rwanda.

He commended the University of Alicante and other partners for planting “seeds of transformation” that will benefit future generations, while encouraging higher learning institutions to sustain and scale up inclusive practices in line with Vision 2050 and Rwanda’s education and disability policies.

Assoc. Prof. Kayihura also expressed appreciation for the strong partnerships that have underpinned the success of the ANSWER Project, emphasizing that collaboration between international universities, government institutions, and Rwandan higher learning institutions has been critical in translating policy commitments into practical action.

He highlighted key achievements of the project, including capacity building for academic and support staff, the development of inclusive teaching and learning practices, improved accessibility of learning environments, and the integration of assistive technologies. These interventions, he noted, have strengthened institutional capacity while amplifying the voices of students with disabilities.

As the ANSWER Project approaches the end of its lifespan, the Vice Chancellor called on stakeholders to focus on sustainability by mainstreaming inclusion into institutional policies, budgets, curricula, infrastructure planning, and organizational culture.

Reaffirming the University of Rwanda’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, he encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and contribute to shaping the future of inclusive higher education in Rwanda.

Participants in the conference posing for a group photo

“Together, let us ensure that higher education in Rwanda truly becomes a space where every student—regardless of disability—can access, participate, succeed, and thrive,” he concluded, before officially declaring the ANSWER Project Final National Conference open.
The conference continues on 18 December 2025, featuring panel discussions, experience-sharing sessions, and policy dialogues aimed at strengthening inclusive higher education beyond the project’s duration.

Story by
NTIRANDEKURA Schadrac
PRO, UR-CE & Communication Officer, UR-ANSWER project