RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D) AND EDUCATION
1. Name of the Assignment: Conducting a National Tracer Survey and Employer Satisfaction Survey for TVET and Higher Education Graduates in Rwanda
Client: Higher Education Council (HEC)
The Rwandan government emphasizes the importance of a robust educational system that aligns with job market demands, necessitating careful monitoring and evaluation of education quality across general higher education and polytechnic institutions. As part of its commitment to human capital development and socioeconomic advancement, the Higher Education Council (HEC) commissioned the Regional Research Centre for Integrated Development (RCID LTD) to conduct a national tracer survey and employer satisfaction survey for graduates from 2017/2018, 2018/2019, and 2019/2020 academic years.
The primary objective of this survey was to assess employer satisfaction with the performance of graduates and track their career progression. The study involved 4,728 graduates, with 942 from polytechnic institutions and 3,786 from general higher education establishments, representing diverse fields of study. Additionally, 830 employers were surveyed to gain insights into graduate preparedness and job performance, surpassing the initial target of 807.
Findings revealed varying employment rates between graduates of polytechnics and general higher education, with the latter group showing a higher percentage of permanent employment. The survey also highlighted a significant gender split, with general higher education institutions showing greater female representation. While employers expressed high satisfaction with graduates’ technical knowledge, they emphasized the need for more practical training and curriculum updates to meet evolving industry standards. The survey recommended enhancing collaboration between educational institutions and employers to better align educational outcomes with job market needs.
2. Name of the Assignment: Impact of COVID-19 on Food Production and Consumption in Rwanda
The study on the impact of COVID-19 on food production and consumption in Rwanda aimed to identify the challenges faced by farming households and evaluate the mitigation measures implemented. Conducted between March 2020 and December 2021, the research focused on understanding how the pandemic affected access to agricultural inputs, food prices, and consumption behaviors, and examined the strategies employed to mitigate these impacts.
The findings revealed that COVID-19 significantly disrupted food production due to limited access to essential inputs like chemical fertilizers and seeds, primarily caused by importation challenges and the high costs associated with long-distance procurement. These disruptions led to increased food prices, which in turn altered the consumption patterns of Rwandan communities, particularly in rural areas. In response, the Government of Rwanda initiated several measures, including distributing staple foods like rice, maize, and beans to 211,000 vulnerable households in lockdown areas and injecting Rwf 100 billion to support agricultural and livestock activities. The study highlighted that government support was primarily focused on urban areas, leaving rural farmers increasingly food insecure and raising concerns about their resilience to the pandemic.
The study recommended introducing new agricultural technologies to enhance productivity, promoting collective action among agricultural stakeholders, and encouraging the use of locally available resources. It also emphasized the importance of investing in capacity-building for farmers and SMEs, providing them with technical expertise and innovative solutions to improve food production and consumption in Rwanda.