CMU-Africa celebrates new location

by Staff writer

CMU-Africa celebrates the opening of its new location within Kigali Innovation City, where students can interact directly with surrounding industries to experiment, to innovate, and to build solutions that will impact the continent.

On November 21, Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) will celebrate the opening of its new location within Kigali Innovation City. In partnership with the Government of Rwanda, Carnegie Mellon University Africa was established in 2011 to address the critical shortage of high-quality engineering talent required to accelerate development in Africa. To date, CMU-Africa has educated more than 300 students from 18 African countries with master’s degrees in Information Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

  • Aerial view of the new CMU-Africa location
    CMU-Africa is moving to its new home in Innovation City, giving both students and the program room to grow.
  • Photo of four female CMU-Africa students, one holding a laptop
    CMU-Africa holds networking events, including their Young Professional Series, where CMU-Africa alumni offer students insight on industry lessons they have learned.
  • A CMU-Africa student in the halls holding a book
    CMU-Africa admits not only the brightest students, but they must also demonstrate leadership qualities.
  • Two CMU Africa students chatting while walking up steps in the building
    The new building underscores CMU-Africa’s commitment to developing African entrepreneurs.

    • CMU-Africa is the anchor institution in Kigali Innovation City, whose goal is to foster digital innovation and entrepreneurial activity that will catalyze Rwanda’s economic growth. With a major focus on the continent’s emerging knowledge-based economy, CMU-Africa’s graduate programs are educating future leaders who will use their hands-on, experiential learning to advance technology innovation and grow the businesses that will transform the continent and beyond.

    “This is truly a milestone in CMU-Africa’s history,” says CMU President Farnam Jahanian. “Since its inception, CMU-Africa has embodied the power of education to catalyze economic development and better humanity. This new location will build upon that momentum. By expanding our graduate programming, we can connect more students to the world-class experts, resources, and tools necessary to launch the next generation of technologies and businesses.”

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    The building is strategically located in close proximity to large international corporations and innovative technology startups, such as Volkswagen and Mara Phone, which affords students the opportunity to interact directly with the industries around them, to experiment, to innovate, and to build truly transformational and scalable solutions that will impact not only Rwanda, but the entire continent.

    “Over 90% of our graduates have started businesses or are working in their home countries,” says Vijayakumar Bhagavatula, director of CMU-Africa. “CMU-Africa alumni are emerging as thought leaders and change-makers within their African communities and across the globe.”

    Over 90% of CMU-Africa graduates have started businesses or are working in their home countries.

    Vijayakumar Bhagavatula, Director, CMU-Africa

    CMU-Africa’s new location houses 130 students and 35 faculty and staff. The official inauguration ceremony will have notable dignitaries in attendance, including the Minister of Education Eugene Mutimira; Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire; CEO of RDB Clare Akamanzi; CMU President Farnam Jahanian; CMU Provost James Garrett; and several CMU trustees.

    Previously located at Telecom House in Kacyiru, the institution’s new home is a 6,000-square-meter facility and can accommodate up to 300 students. The new location will feature twice as many labs as its previous location, more specialized and inclusive facilities, and modern technology to enable distance education and teleconferencing, connecting CMU-Africa to world-renowned researchers and a vibrant student body across multiple locations.

    Update: View photos from the event

  • Group at the amphitheater
    The President of the Republic of Rwanda H.E. Paul Kagame and CMU President Farnam Jahanian were joined by dignitaries, students, and guests on the steps of the site’s new amphitheater.
  • Audience listens to the opening remarks
    Students and alumni attended the building opening that marks the next chapter of growth and impact for Carnegie Mellon in Africa.
  • CMU President Farnam Jahanian
    During the opening ceremony CMU President Farnam Jahanian outlined how the program has grown since its inception and its contributions to ICT.
  • CMU-Africa Director Kumar Bhagavatula
    Vijayakumar Bhagavatula, CMU-Africa director, noted that CMU-Africa brings together students from 16 African countries, making Kigali a destination for advanced training in ICT.
  • Rwanda President Kigame and CMU President Farnam Jahanian
    A handshake between CMU President Farnam Jahanian (l.) and the President of the Republic of Rwanda H.E. Paul Kagame (r.) underscores the partnership between the Government of Rwanda and CMU that was formed to educate the next generation of technology leaders in Africa.
  • Building plaque
    A plaque commemorates the official opening of Carnegie Mellon University Africa.
  • A group gathered around the building plaque
    Government leaders and educators from Rwanda and the U.S. came to Innovation City in Kigali to celebrate the opening of CMU-Africa’s new location on November 21, 2019.

    • For media inquiries, please contact Sherry Stokes at stokes@cmu.edu.