During a recent visit to Rwanda, AUN President Dr. Dewayne Frazier engaged in meaningful conversations with the university's alumni, highlighting the profound impact their experiences at AUN have had on their personal and professional lives. The Rwandan alumni shared touching stories, reflecting on how their time at AUN shaped their careers and identities. Many fondly recalled inspiring professors and reminisced about the memorable moments that defined their university days. They also discussed AUN's recent progress and its positive trajectory in facilitating the return of Rwandan students to the university.
Several alumni in Rwanda accepted President Frazier's invitation to attend the upcoming alumni event during commencement week in 2025, signaling a renewed connection and enthusiasm for the university's future. They also expressed a strong desire to support AUN’s mission, with many offering to help recruit and encourage more students from Rwanda to enroll.
As part of his commitment to strengthening educational ties, President Frazier met with key figures in Rwanda’s education sector, including the Minister of Education and the Director of the Higher Education Council. His primary objective was to reinstate AUN on Rwanda’s scholarship list—a program that previously enabled Rwandan students to study at AUN between 2013 and 2018.
Additionally, President Frazier met with Rwanda's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Reconciliation, Eric U. Mahoro, to discuss integrating genocide and conflict resolution studies into AUN’s curriculum. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Rwandan Embassy in Abuja, includes plans for a dedicated space on AUN’s campus to honor the victims of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, similar to the university’s Indian and American spaces. The Ministry of Culture has pledged to provide resources and materials to support this effort, enhancing AUN’s academic offerings in these critical areas.
To further strengthen ties with Rwanda, President Frazier is finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Rwanda to facilitate student and faculty exchanges. As part of this collaboration, the University of Rwanda has agreed to assist AUN in developing its agricultural programs, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation in this vital sector.
Reported by Pwagreno Blessing Moris