(From L-R: Prof. Robert Gateru, The Vice Chancellor Riara University; Prof. Wanja Mwaura Tenambergren, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Riara University; Ms. Marion Amukuzi, Open Distance & Electronic Learning (ODEL) Lead at Riara University; Dr. Julius Otundo, Head of Education, Professional Development and Training at Riara University and Dr. Evans Amata, Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration Riara University pose for a picture during the EduCollab June Convening/Kigali, Rwanda.)
Reimagining Student Success in Africa
Riara University at the 2025 EduCollab June Convening | Kigali, Rwanda
June 20 | Kigali, Rwanda – Hundreds of university leaders, faculty, and higher education stakeholders from across the continent came together this June to co-create a student-first future for African universities. Held under the bold theme “Re-centering Student Development: Reflecting, Mobilizing, and Realigning for a Transformational Student Experience,” the 2025 Education Collaborative June Convening was the largest in the initiative’s eight-year history.
Over four dynamic days, delegates from more than 16 African countries explored how institutions can elevate student success from a support service to a strategic pillar. Key areas of focus included personalized learning, mentorship, career development, mental health, and alumni relations. The convening, hosted in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, was co-organized by Ashesi University, Covenant University, and the University of Embu.
Student voices were also central. Four remarkable student leaders opened the convening with powerful stories from their own academic journeys, setting the tone for inclusive, student-centered dialogue.
Riara University Joins the Conversation
Riara University was honoured to participate in the EduCollab June Convening held in Kigali, Rwanda. This transformative gathering underscored the vital role of collaborative innovation in reimagining the future of African higher education. The convening brought together passionate educators, institutional leaders, and student representatives to reflect on the evolving landscape of student engagement, mobility, and inclusive learning ecosystems.
For Riara, this was more than just a platform for dialogue. It was an opportunity to contribute to and learn from a continent-wide conversation centered on reshaping higher education for greater relevance and impact. The sessions were deeply engaging, sparking reflection on how universities can be more intentional in creating learner-centered, future-ready environments.
A compelling takeaway from the convening was the power of co-creation with students in designing meaningful academic experiences. It became clear that students should not merely be recipients of knowledge but active co-architects of their learning journeys. This philosophy resonates strongly with Riara University’s student-first approach, which prioritizes empowering learners to become ethically grounded, globally competitive, and community-conscious leaders.
The convening also highlighted scalable models of cross-border partnerships, digital integration, and student mobility that offer new blueprints for collaboration among African institutions. These models showcased how technology and partnership can amplify institutional reach and create more equitable and accessible education systems.
Riara’s presence at EduCollab symbolised our commitment to contributing to these bold, continent-shaping conversations. We recognize that meaningful transformation in education requires collective action, innovation, and the courage to disrupt outdated models. These values are at the core of Riara’s mission.
Being part of such an energizing and forward-looking gathering in Kigali reinforced Riara University’s place in the regional movement toward inclusive and innovative education. It was a moment of alignment between our institutional goals and the broader aspirations of African higher education reform.
As we return from the convening, we carry forward renewed energy and a deepened commitment to Empowering Lives and Impacting Communities. Riara University stands ready to drive and support initiatives that promote inclusive, Pan-African learning experiences for both students and faculty.
🔗 Important links about the convening:
