Kigali, Rwanda — President Paul Kagame received Prof. Dong-Sup Yoon, President of Yonsei University, along with Dr. Won-Yong Lee, Executive Vice President for Research Affairs, and their delegation this afternoon at Village Urugwiro. The meeting focused on deepening the partnership between Rwanda and one of South Korea's most prestigious academic institutions. Discussions centered on expanding collaboration through academic exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and capacity building in education. The engagement reflects Rwanda's continued commitment to strengthening international part

Kigali, Rwanda — President Paul Kagame received Prof. Dong-Sup Yoon, President of Yonsei University, along with Dr. Won-Yong Lee, Executive Vice President for Research Affairs, and their delegation this afternoon at Village Urugwiro. The meeting focused on deepening the partnership between Rwanda and one of South Korea's most prestigious academic institutions.

Discussions centered on expanding collaboration through academic exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and capacity building in education. The engagement reflects Rwanda's continued commitment to strengthening international partnerships in higher education and leveraging global expertise to advance the country's human capital development goals.

Yonsei University, founded in 1885, is South Korea's oldest private university and ranks among the top institutions globally. The university is part of the elite SKY universities alongside Seoul National University and Korea University, representing the three most prestigious universities in South Korea. Yonsei currently ranks 50th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and enrolls over 38,000 students across its campuses.

The Seoul-based institution has established itself as a leader in international collaboration, maintaining partnerships with over 660 institutions across 77 countries. Yonsei educates the largest number of international students among Korean universities and has built extensive research capabilities across medicine, engineering, sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

The meeting at Urugwiro Village represents another step in Rwanda's strategy to forge strategic partnerships with world-class institutions. Such collaborations are designed to enhance research capacity, facilitate knowledge transfer, and provide opportunities for Rwandan students and faculty to engage with leading global universities.

Rwanda has increasingly positioned itself as a hub for education and innovation in East Africa, investing significantly in its education sector and establishing partnerships with international institutions to accelerate skills development and research capacity. The country's Vision 2050 emphasizes the transformation of Rwanda into a knowledge-based economy, making partnerships with institutions like Yonsei University particularly strategic.

The delegation's visit to Rwanda signals growing academic and potentially broader bilateral ties between Rwanda and South Korea. South Korea has been a development partner to Rwanda in various sectors, and educational collaboration represents an important dimension of this relationship.

Details of specific programs or initiatives emerging from the discussions were not immediately disclosed, though both parties expressed commitment to strengthening the partnership in ways that will benefit students, researchers, and institutions in both countries.

A little more informed. A little more connected.