OISE RPI Deepens Strategic Partnership with the University of Rwanda

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In October 2025, OISE’s Research, Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) portfolio deepened its collaboration with the University of Rwanda (UR) through a new phase of the UR–Mastercard Foundation (MCF) e-Learning Initiative—an ambitious effort to modernize teaching, research, and governance across Rwanda’s national university system.

Representing OISE RPI, Dr. Elisabeth Rees-Johnstone, Executive Director of Continuing & Professional Learning (CPL), and Michael Cassidy, Associate Director, Partnerships & Innovation, met with UR’s executive leadership to align Mastercard Foundation investments with the university’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan.

This renewed engagement builds on a successful five-year partnership (2020–2025) in which OISE CPL supported UR’s College of Education to integrate competency-based education, strengthen faculty development, and enhance digital learning capacity. Through this collaboration, communities of practice were established, and evidence-based approaches to professional learning were embedded across teacher education programs.

The next phase of work—Learning & Impact: Building Evidence for Sustainable Implementation—will extend OISE’s role in mobilizing research and implementation science to advance institutional readiness and sustainable change.

During the visit, the OISE team also attended the University of Rwanda’s 11th Convocation Ceremony, celebrating over 9,500 graduates, including doctoral scholars honoured during the PhD Gala.

 

“It was a humbling reminder that higher education is both a personal achievement and a national act of progress,” said Rees-Johnstone. “We’re proud to partner with the University of Rwanda as they continue building the systems and capabilities that enable meaningful, sustainable learning at scale.”

OISE’s collaboration with the University of Rwanda demonstrates the Faculty’s growing leadership in innovation mobilization—translating research into practice to strengthen education systems worldwide.

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By Allie Houghton,
Marketing & Community Engagement Manager,
OISE Continuing & Professional Learning

October 27, 2025