Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Visits YU Six Times, Requests Cooperation Centered on Saemaul Programs

Ambassador Nkubito Calls for Expanding Educational Partnerships Across Diverse Academic Fields

Collaboration to Foster Practice-Oriented Talent Based on Local Needs in Rwanda

Concrete Plans for “Outstanding Student Recruitment–Education–Performance Management” and Long-Term Degree-Based Talent Development Model

[April 20, 2026]

<The Rwandan Ambassador to Korea and delegation visited YU to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and talent development initiatives>

(From left: President CHOI Oe-chool, Ambassador Nkubito Manzi Bakuramutsa)

The international exchange between YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) and Rwanda, which began with cooperation on the “localization of the Saemaul Undong,” is now expanding into diverse academic fields including engineering and agriculture. This step-by-step expansion of collaboration between a Korean university and a foreign government for local talent development is regarded as a model case of global academic cooperation.

 On April 15, Ambassador Nkubito Manzi Bakuramutsa of Rwanda to Korea and his delegation visited YU, met with President CHOI Oe-chool, and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation projects and strengthen talent development initiatives. Including visits by his predecessor, this marked the sixth visit by a Rwandan ambassador to YU.

 During the meeting, both sides agreed to further strengthen the cooperation framework built around Saemaul programs while expanding the scope of their educational partnership into a broader range of academic disciplines. In particular, they discussed concrete measures to recruit outstanding Rwandan students to YU and establish linked degree programs. Both parties plan to explore new program models to facilitate Rwandan students’ admission to YU, along with practical discussions on scholarship support and selection processes.

 Ambassador Nkubito stated, “YU’s expertise in Saemaul Studies and international development cooperation, along with its experience in talent cultivation, can provide meaningful opportunities for Rwandan youth.” He added, “The President of Rwanda places strong value on citizen-driven policy and change. In this regard, building a strategic partnership between Rwanda and YU, which has institutionalized the Saemaul Undong academically, could generate even greater impact. I hope more Rwandan students will come to YU to study across various disciplines.”

 Currently, around 50 Rwandan students have graduated from or are enrolled in YU’s Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul.

 President CHOI remarked, “Based on YU’s accumulated experience in Saemaul Studies and international development cooperation, we will do our utmost to systematically design diverse growth pathways for young Rwandan talent.” He continued, “In addition to educating future generations, leadership that promotes policies with trust and consistency is equally important. In that sense, President Paul Kagame demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities. If Rwandan youth can share and localize YU’s expertise in Saemaul-based international development, combined with President Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda can achieve even more rapid national development. Furthermore, I believe Korea’s model of compressed economic growth can be successfully replicated in Rwanda.”

 This initiative aims not only to enhance the capacity of developing countries’ talent in community development, but also to cultivate practice-oriented professionals tailored to Rwanda’s national needs, including advancements in food and agriculture, as well as the expansion of infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities. The significance of this discussion lies in its transition beyond short-term training programs toward designing a long-term, degree-based talent development pipeline across multiple disciplines.

The international cooperation between YU and Rwanda has gradually evolved through sharing Saemaul Studies and Korea’s development experience. In November 2020, then Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Yasmin Amri Sued visited YU to discuss cooperation on localizing the Saemaul Undong, laying the foundation for collaboration. In March 2021, YU signed an agreement with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, establishing an institutional framework including recommendations for international students to the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul. In October 2024, at the request of Rwanda’s Minister of Education, President CHOI visited Rwanda and delivered a special lecture on Saemaul education to presidents and vice presidents of five major universities, including the University of Rwanda, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Education. Building on these accumulated efforts, the current discussion represents a new phase of cooperation. Moving forward, YU plans to institutionalize regular consultation channels with the Rwandan government and further develop a structured system encompassing student selection, education, and performance management, thereby designing more comprehensive growth pathways for Rwandan youth.

Meanwhile, travel YouTuber Pani Bottle recently gained significant attention after posting a video titled “A Visit to a Rwandan Village That Thrived by Adopting Korea’s Saemaul Undong.(https://youtu.be/OkGSeDPzXyQ?si=-p6CUV07al_tKJEa)” The video highlights a successful case of applying the Saemaul movement in Rwanda. Notably, a YU graduate working with KOICA in Rwanda appears in the video, directly explaining Saemaul Studies and vividly showcasing the achievements of YU’s international development Saemaul program.