Kenyatta University (KU) is set to open its first Rwanda campus, becoming the latest Kenyan institution of higher learning to expand into the country.

KU has acquired and furnished a building in Kigali in readiness for inspection by the Rwanda Higher Education Council, as it prepares to open the new campus “early next year.”

This will become the third Kenyan university to expand into Rwanda after Mount Kenya University (MKU) and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

“The university is currently working closely with the relevant Rwandese authorities and the contractors to ensure compliance and readiness of the proposed campus,” a briefing by KU on the planned expansion states.

“The Higher Education Council of Rwanda plans to inspect the campus this month in readiness for its operationalisation early 2016.”

The campus will initially offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in education, environmental studies, humanities, social sciences, economics and business.

Rwanda has a few public tertiary institutions including the University of Rwanda, integrated polytechnics, Institute of Legal Practice and Development and three nursing schools.

The rapidly growing east African economy has 15 private universities, offering an irresistible attraction to regional varsities that have expansion plans. The total student count as at the end of last year stood at less than 90,000.

MKU’s Kigali Campus was opened in 2010 and mainly offers courses in health education and Executive MBA programmes. The institution, one of the largest private universities in Kenya, has more than 4,000 learners in three locations — Kicukiro, Camp Kigali and Town Centre.

Signing a partnership

JKUAT, which also has a campus in Tanzania, set up in Kigali in September 2013 and is offering both undergraduate and post graduate programmes on full-time and part time basis.

The University of Nairobi and the University of Rwanda recently held discussions with a view on signing a partnership.