UR - College of Science & Technology

l Co-operation (GTZ) as the implementing agency. The initial funding for starting the Institute came from a UNDP core funding and a UNDP Trust Fund obtained from the generous contributions by the Governments of Japan and the Netherlands. This financial boost enabled UR-CST to initiate operations smoothly, taking only two months for the first class of 209 students to begin their studies and those who were successful later graduated in July 27, 2002. It is now fifteen years since the war and genocide of 1994. During this reconstruction period, the country has slowly but surely continued to rebuild all sectors of its national economy, including its human resource base, and is striving to join the international community in activities such as trade, technological developments, the transfer of technology, the promotion of scientific & technical know-how and information & communication technologies. UR-CST's establishment as an institute of science and technology has been part of this ongoing rebuilding effort. The onus to rekindle the scientific and technical resource base and managerial skills in Rwanda therefore is so far largely on UR-CST. After only two years of existence, the Institute has progressively endeavored to build an indigenous scientific and technical human resource base, capable in the near future, of propelling the country forward in her efforts to develop all sectors of the economy. Through its regular, part-time, and outreach programs, UR-CST is making an impact, which is already being felt, in most parts of the country. The entire membership of UR-CST and Rwandans at large, continue to appreciate both the initial and continued combined efforts of the governments of Rwanda, Japan, and Netherlands; and organizations such as UNDP and GTZ without whose combined support and commitment KIST would probably not be what it is today.