The University of Rwanda has been named among the inaugural winners of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize, earning a USD 3 million award. The recognition was announced in Accra, Ghana, during the inaugural Higher Education Transformation Convening hosted by the Mastercard Foundation. The award places the University of Rwanda among five African higher education institutions recognised for demonstrating institution-wide transformation.
The other 2026 laureates are Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering in Burkina Faso, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, and Muni University in Uganda. For Rwanda, the recognition comes at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen its human capital by expanding access to quality education while aligning university training and research with national development priorities.
Prof. Kayihura M. Didas, Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, said the award would help the institution build on progress already made in health education, research and innovation. He added that, with support from the Mastercard Foundation, the university would seek to strengthen its ability to turn research and knowledge into practical solutions that benefit communities.
The AHEFT Prize is designed to recognise universities that are making sustained, institution-wide improvements in areas including teaching and learning, research and innovation, the transition of students into employment and health outcomes. The initiative is backed by a USD 500 million commitment and is expected to recognise at least 150 institutions across Africa over the next decade.
Each winning institution receives USD 3 million to scale initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young people and strengthening the continent’s higher education systems. The Accra convening was held under the theme “Reimagining Higher Education for Africa’s Human Capital Development,” with discussions focused on how African universities can become more relevant, sustainable and responsive to the needs of a rapidly changing continent.
For the University of Rwanda, the award provides additional resources to advance its role not only as a centre of learning, but also as an institution contributing to the country’s health workforce, research capacity and innovation ecosystem. The university aims to develop a health workforce that responds to the needs of Rwanda and its communities.
The recognition and funding will enable the University of Rwanda to enhance its programs and make a greater impact in the region. The AHEFT Prize is a prestigious award that acknowledges the university's efforts to improve higher education and address the needs of the country and the continent.
Key points
- University of Rwanda wins $3m AHEFT Prize to support higher education and health training.
- The AHEFT Prize is backed by a $500 million commitment to recognise 150 institutions across Africa.
- The University of Rwanda is one of five African institutions recognised for demonstrating institution-wide transformation.
