According to university officials, the programme is in advanced stages of development and has already been validated internally. It is now under review by the Higher Education Council (HEC) for final accreditation.
Once approved, it will be Rwanda's first degree programme dedicated to nuclear science.
Prof. Ignace Gatare, Principal of the College of Science and Technology, said the programme aims to build a skilled workforce to support national goals in nuclear energy and related fields.
'We are looking forward to receiving feedback from HEC in regards to the national framework for accreditation of the new program,' Gatare told the New Times.
The four-year curriculum will start with core courses in physics, mathematics, electronics, and measurement technologies. Advanced years will introduce specialised topics in nuclear technology, aligning with Rwanda's broader plans to develop peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
This initiative complements Rwanda's strategy to build a nuclear research centre in partnership with Russia. The centre will focus on producing radioactive materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment, enhancing agriculture through radiation technologies, and advancing industrial testing methods.
Rwanda's ambitions go further. The country plans to host Africa's first demonstration of a Dual Fluid nuclear reactor and is pursuing small modular reactor (SMR) technology to meet growing electricity demands sustainably. SMRs are compact, safer alternatives to traditional reactors and are seen as key to Rwanda's Vision 2050 goals.
Fidèle Ndahayo, CEO of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, previously emphasised the urgency of diversifying energy sources. With national energy capacity currently estimated at 650â€"700 MW, Rwanda needs to boost output to as much as 4.5 GW by 2050 to fuel economic growth.
The new academic programme is expected to play a critical role in supporting this transition by producing professionals who can contribute to sectors such as energy, healthcare, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and mining.
IGIHE
