The Government of Rwanda, represented by Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere, has forged Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Tampere University of Applied Sciences, and Finest Bay Area Development Oy signaling a commitment to promote and expand international cooperation, educational activities, and to stimulate and support educational, with a focus on TVET, Applied Sciences, entrepreneurship, professional, and intercultural endeavors within the respective institutions and their communities.

Tampere University of Applied Sciences stands as a versatile and esteemed institution, serving as an educator, innovator, and partner within the realm of the working world. TAMK is composed of five schools that seamlessly interlink education, research, development, and business activities:

● School of Built Environment and Bioeconomy

● School of Business and Media

● School of Industrial Engineering

● School of Pedagogical Innovations and Culture

● School of Social Services and Health Care

This significant MoU was formally executed on the 14th of September 2023, during the Rwanda Business Forum held in Helsinki, Finland. The forum, organized by the Rwandan Embassy, Rwandan Community in Finland, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Finnpartnership, Hills Connect, convened an assembly of prominent entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and a distinguished Rwandan delegation.

Finnpartnership, a dedicated business partnership program, supports Finnish companies and enterprises in developing countries by facilitating the exploration of new business prospects and fostering valuable partnerships. This program is generously endowed with an annual budget of approximately EUR 4 million, sourced from the development cooperation appropriations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Hills Connect, comprising Rwandans residing and working in Finland, is committed to attracting Finnish investors to Rwanda. In close collaboration with the Embassy of Rwanda to the Nordics, based in Stockholm, Sweden, Hills Connect has effectively introduced Block Solutions Ltd (construction) and Aion Sigma (Financial inclusion) to Rwanda, both of which have initiated operations, aswell as fostered connections with numerous universities.

Additionally, the Rwandan Minister of State for Education is poised to sign another MoU with Finest Bay Area Development Oy, a venture initiated by the renowned Finnish entrepreneur Peter Vesterbacka, widely recognized as the "Mighty Eagle". Vesterbacka is a Finnish mobile game developer and former CMO of Rovio Entertainment Corporation. He is responsible for the development of the gaming company Rovio Entertainment's business and has been involved in making the popular Angry Birds. TIME magazine chose Vesterbacka of 2011, the world's hundred most influential people list.

The MoU in question will facilitate a range of collaborative efforts, including the establishment of a Finnish model Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Regional Centre of Excellence for Africa in Rwanda, operating on a commercial basis. It will also enable traineeship placements in Finland, and prioritize education in fields such as Energy Technology, Mechanical Technology, Information Technology, Nursing, and others.

Furthermore, the collaboration aims to organize incubation and startup support for innovative companies in Rwanda, particularly in gaming, AI, IoT, and emerging sectors. Plans include hosting a startup event in Rwanda in 2024, akin to renowned events such as SLUSH, ICE, or Arctic15.

Minister Claudette commented that this endeavor aligns seamlessly with the government's strategic agenda to bolster Rwanda's stature as a technology hub and enhance job security. She emphasized that the establishment of such a campus will empower Rwandans to effectively compete on the global stage. H.E. Dr. Diane Gashumba affirmed Rwanda's clear vision and ambition to become Africa's leading country in innovation, education, and technology, fostering partnerships with nations like Finland to strive to developing our country's teaching force to realize this goal. 

With decades of experience in Education, Entrepreneurship, Entertainment, and initiatives such as the SLUSH startup conference and Ambitious Africa, Peter Vesterbacka, founder of Finest Bay Area expressed enthusiasm for this collaboration and future plans of 2024.

In another noteworthy development, the Catholic University of Rwanda, represented by the Chancellor Archbishop Philippe RUKAMBA, has also inked an MoU with Finest Future, an entity owned by Peter Vesterbacka. This partnership aims to introduce the teaching of the Finnish language at a cost, thereby paving the way for Rwandans to pursue studies in Finland up to the doctoral level, without incurring tuition fees.