He explained that the change comes after it was observed that some students were graduating without sufficient knowledge, while others lacked opportunities to pursue studies at international universities.

According to him, the decision was made after receiving complaints from employers about the quality of education, as some graduates lacked essential skills.

"Students and employers continued to tell us that the three-year program left students without fundamental knowledge. While we tried to adopt a model similar to that of universities in neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya, where undergraduate programs are three years long, our assessments showed that this approach was not yielding the expected results," Muganga said.

"We initially reduced the duration to three years due to the influence of neighboring countries, where universities offer three-year undergraduate programs. However, in Rwanda, the debate has continued on whether this program would produce graduates with the skills required by the labor market," he added.

In 2017, UR had reduced the study duration for various programs from four years to three years. However, after five years of implementing this shorter program, the university decided to revert to the original four-year structure for all faculties.

Muganga emphasized that students should complete a minimum of 16 years of education before finishing their undergraduate degree, which includes six years of primary school, six years of secondary school, and four years of university.

Following the first cohort of students graduating from UR in 2020, research conducted with various stakeholders, including employers, teachers, and students, revealed that there were challenges with the three-year program.

The university believes that a four-year program will better equip students with the necessary knowledge in their fields of study, enhance their research skills, and prepare them to favorably compete on the job market. This change is also expected to improve students’ competitiveness both domestically and internationally.

"Education is a continuous process. As a university, we want to ensure that our programs align with international standards, offering a high-quality education that meets the global market demands," Muganga noted.

Complaints from employers about the quality of education as some graduates lacked essential skills resulted in the reinstallation of a four-year study period.

Senator Prof. Telesphore Ngarambe highlighted the importance of adhering to the designated study period in university programs, arguing that the three-year model often did not allow students to fully grasp the required content. He stressed that a three-year program forces students to cover a vast amount of material in a short period, often compromising the depth of their learning.

Dr. Rose Mukankomeje, the Director-General of the Higher Education Council (HEC), recently informed lawmakers that some students missed opportunities to study at international universities because they had completed only three years of study.

"A student is typically required to complete 480 credits to earn an undergraduate degree. This means that over four years, a student should accumulate at least 100 credits per year. In three years, it becomes challenging for students to meet this requirement, which negatively impacts their chances of acceptance at international universities," she said.

On the other hand, teachers have pointed out that the three-year study period made it difficult to cover the necessary course material and provide students with the knowledge required for success in the job market.

A student is typically required to complete 480 credits to earn an undergraduate degree.