East Africa University Rwanda will on Friday host its annual Career Day at Camp Kigali, bringing together students, employers, government representatives, and industry leaders in what organisers describe as one of the most significant professional development events on the university’s calendar.
Now in its latest edition, the event scheduled for 12 June 2026, is expected to draw approximately 2,000 participants, organised in partnership with the City of Kigali.
Around 30 per cent of students in attendance are projected to access on-the-spot internship placements, while up to 50 per cent of secondary school students participating are expected to connect with their prospective universities.
Ten higher institutions of learning have confirmed participation, including seven colleges of the University of Rwanda, Mount Kigali University, INES-Ruhengeri, and UTAB. Various organisations and media houses will also be present to cater to students across different professional interests.
A notable addition to this year’s edition is a graduate tracking system through which the university will, for the first time, monitor where students who benefit from the programme ultimately enroll or gain employment.
Julius Kabagambe, Head of Career Guidance at EAUR, said the event is designed to give students direct access to the labour market, with on-site interviews, spot internship placements, and networking opportunities with CEOs and directors from local and international organisations.
“Students gain spot internship recruitment, a few interviews on site and they get recruited, which eases the job search. Talented students get to show themselves and are rewarded; some receive learning support. We also have different organisations and media houses present to fit every student’s need,” Kabagambe said.
He added that the tracking file introduced this year marks a shift in how the university measures impact. “We shall now know where and the exact number of those who benefited from our programme, this is something we did not have before,” he said.
Grace Ntaganda, Vice Guild President at EAUR, said Career Day serves a purpose beyond a single afternoon of networking. “Career Day is more than just an event; it is a platform that connects students with professionals, industry leaders, and organisations that can help shape their future careers,” she said.
Ntaganda said success will be defined by lasting impact rather than attendance alone. “Success will be measured not only by attendance but by the impact the event has on students’ aspirations, career planning, and personal development. If students gain clarity about their future, establish valuable networks, and discover new opportunities, then we will have achieved our objective,” she said.
Guild President Achim Mukiza echoed the call for students to treat the day as a direct market opportunity. “We meet experts and can ask them about the future of our career path and all the questions we ask ourselves,” Mukiza said, noting that past editions had seen students, including visual artists, have their work purchased on the spot. “It is a big day that will have many people around from different organisations. It will be our best spot to sell ourselves on the market.”
Career Day 2026 is open to University students and invited secondary school students. Organisers are encouraging all attendees to come prepared to engage actively with the professionals and institutions present.
