New School Year, New Campus, New Beginnings

Akilah kicks off the new school year with a selfie at its new campus in the heart of Kigali.

This week is all about new and exciting beginnings at Akilah.

We kicked off the new school year by welcoming 600 students and just about 60 faculty and staff to our new and beautiful campus in the heart of Kigali.

With more than 17 new classrooms, five computer labs, a spacious library, and a breathtaking view over Kigali from the rooftop terrace, our new campus can host up to 2,000 students and is the perfect setting for Akilah’s exciting growth in the months and years to come.

Not only do we have a new campus, we also have a new academic model using competency-based education. We’ve also launched our Evening and Weekend Program for students with day-time commitments. Four hundred new students completed Akilah’s inaugural Bridge Program over the summer, where they improved their English, math, and leadership skills. Now they are ready to plunge into the next two years of studying Information Systems, Business Management and Entrepreneurship, or Hospitality Management.

Monday was the first day of school, and everyone — new and old students, staff and faculty — was excited to start a new chapter in Akilah’s history.

Here’s what our new students had to say:

Liliane Wishavura, Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Class of ‘19

“We have already improved our English and public-speaking skills a lot in the Bridge Program. This is my first time to be introduced to competency-based education, and I think that system will make us strive to do even better.

I have always liked entrepreneurship, so I decided I wanted to study Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Akilah. It’s something new for me, and I find the subjects very interesting.

At Akilah, I expect to create new networks and to get the knowledge to do things on my own. Studying at Akilah will make us confident and future leaders.”

Anastasie Kakuze — Hospitality Management, Evening & Weekend ’19

“The Bridge Program was very good and relevant. We learned how to write essays and practiced different presentation techniques. We worked on Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. In math, we did probability, statistics, and equations. It was very helpful.

I really like competency-based education — it helps you to really show what you can do.

Before the Bridge Program, I wasn’t sure I could stand in front of people and present, but during the Bridge Program, I already improved so much.

Now, we are ready to start academic year one, and I can’t wait to get started. I believe that after two years here at Akilah, I’ll be a better person.”

Evangeline Umuzabibu Bethtlehem and Diane Gikundiro, Hospitality Management, Class of ‘19

“We are so excited to be here. The new campus is very nice, and everyone has given us a great welcome. It’s so different from the old campus — it’s much more modern.

After finishing the Bridge Program, we have improved our English skills, we have studied math and accounting, and we have increased our confidence. We are ready to start Hospitality Management as confident ladies.”