Hundreds of students from universities across Rwanda converged on East African University Rwanda (EAUR) on Friday for the institution’s fourth annual Inter-University Career Fair and JobNet Conference, the first edition to be elevated to a national platform bringing together government ministries, development partners, and private sector employers under one roof.
The conference, jointly organised by EAUR and the City of Kigali under the theme “Bridging Education Gaps, Employability, and Innovation for Sustainable Development,” came against the backdrop of growing concern over graduate unemployment in Rwanda, where employer surveys consistently flag skills mismatches, limited workplace experience, and a gap between academic training and industry expectations as barriers to youth absorption into the labour market.
EAUR’s Vice Chancellor opened proceedings by acknowledging the challenge head-on, calling on universities to continuously review their curricula and deepen industry engagement while urging employers to actively participate in shaping workforce competencies. “Sustainable solutions can only emerge through collective action,” he told the gathering. He was equally direct with students in the room. “Employability is not only about obtaining a degree, it is also about developing adaptability, communication skills, creativity, integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to lifelong learning,” he said.
Representative from the Higher Education Council (HEC) as Guest of Honour, framed graduate readiness as a matter of national development. Citing technological advancement, digital transformation, and globalisation as forces reshaping the skills landscape, he said institutions can no longer afford to lag behind. “The world of work is changing rapidly. Higher education institutions must continuously adapt to ensure that graduates possess not only academic knowledge but also practical skills, creativity, innovation, critical thinking, communication abilities, and entrepreneurial mindsets,” he said.
He called on universities to embed employability, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning within their core academic programmes, and praised employers present for their continued collaboration with higher learning institutions. He closed with a broader appeal: “Together, let us continue building stronger bridges between education and the world of work, empowering our youth to become leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to national and global development.”
A panel session brought together representative from the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA), UNICEF, broadcaster Tele 10, the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), EAUR’s Academic Registrar, and a career guidance specialist. Panellists examined the structural dimensions of youth unemployment and underemployment, the value of vocational and technical pathways, and the urgency of sustained industry-university partnerships.
For students in attendance, the day offered direct access to employers and recruiters, an opportunity rarely available within university walls. Henriette Muhawenimana, a third-year Mass Communication student at EAUR, said the experience reshaped how she thinks about her degree. “I always thought finishing my studies was enough. But talking to the employers today made me realise that what you do outside the classroom matters just as much, your networks, your attitude, your ability to communicate,” she said.
The conference concluded with a call for deeper and institutionalised collaboration among universities, employers, and policymakers to expand opportunities for young Rwandan graduates. Organisers encouraged students to remain proactive, invest in skills development, and consider entrepreneurship as a legitimate career path in Rwanda’s growing economy.
