BUJUMBURA September 6th (ABP) – The permanent secretary at the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Frédéric Bangirinama, opened the 12th annual forum on quality assurance on September 5, 2023 in Bujumbura of Higher Education of the East African Community under the theme: “Nurturing Emerging Trends in Higher Education through Quality Assurance”.
That forum was organized by the Inter-University Council for East African (IUCEA), in collaboration with the Higher Education Quality Assurance Network of East Africa (East African higher education quality assurance network “EAQAN”) and the national commission for higher education (CNES), for experts from different universities in East Africa.
Mr. Bangirinama indicated in his opening speech that holding this forum is an opportunity to engage higher education professionals, experts and other stakeholders, to reflect on the place of quality assurance in developing emerging trends in higher education not only in the region but on the continent and beyond.
To that end, he congratulated the IUCEA for having made great progress in improving the quality of learning programs at the university. He further highlighted that IUCEA has developed standards, guidelines, processes and procedures as well as minimum standards for the accreditation of EAC regional programs. That started a long road to support student mobility, comparability of skills and programs and quality improvement, he added.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary of IUCEA, Mr. Gaspard Banyankimbona announced that there are no barriers for laureates from national universities who can go to the East African region to continue their studies or to have a job opportunity.
Mr. Banyankumbone also invited the graduates of Burundi’s universities to redouble their efforts in their studies and increase their knowledge so that they can have opportunities to continue their studies in other countries in the region.