Historical Background
University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK) was created by the Federation of Adventist Parents Associations for the Development of Education in Rwanda (FAPADER) which is an association of several lay Seventh day Adventist proprietorship of secondary school associations that include:
- APACE
- APADE
- APADEK
- APADENYA
- APAER
- APARPE
- APARUDE
- ASPEJ
- UMWUNGERI
- APADEM
UNILAK was approved through the Convention No. 001 of 03 February 1997, which was signed between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, and FAPADER.
The University obtained legal identity as a nonprofit association under Rwandan law through the Ministerial Decree No. 89/11 of 02 July 2004 and it was fully accredited by the government of Rwanda through the Ministerial Order NO 002/09 of 09/04/2009.
The University’s Headquarters are located in the City of Kigali, Gasabo District, Remera Sector. UNILAK has also expanded its activities in the Southern province (Nyanza) and Eastern Province (Rwamagana) and the two campuses operate with a competitive modern boarding facility.
UNILAK Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) Number is 561227536 which show the extent to which UNILAK is credible at global level.
UNILAK has four faculties offered both in undergraduate and master’s level:
- Faculty of Law,
- Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
- Faculty of Environmental Studies
- Faculty of Computing and Information Sciences.
UNILAK RESEARCH PROFILE
UNILAK has an international scientific journal named “East African Journal of Science and Technology, EAJST” it is online (http://eajournal.unilak.ac.rw/) and printed periodically. (ISSN: 2227-1902).
The University organizes yearly international conference where with its fellow researchers share knowledge at international level in different domains especially in cooperative management, sustainable development, Law and environmental studies. These conferences, research projects and publications involve academic staffs, undergraduate and post graduate students and national and international stakeholders.
UNILAK COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS
UNILAK is a member of Inter University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) and ORIPES (Rwandan Organization of Private Higher Learning Institutions
UNILAK collaborates with different public, private and international organizations which are helpful for conducting community outreach activities and research projects.
Some of the MoUs UNILAK has with other Institutions
Date | Institution | Partnership |
30/March 2012 | Xinjiang institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali | Promote research, education and exchange programs between two institutions |
15/10/2013 | The Canadian cooperative association | The research aims to ass to the knowledge of how to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty in a sustainable way in rural communities. The general objective of this research is to improve programming in rural development both in Africa and Canada by obtaining new knowledge about integrated cooperative models in practices. Research on exploration of the added value of an integrated approach to cooperative development as tool for rural development to assess whether rural development through cooperatives works better when cooperatives are integrated, and if so, under what condition this integration works best |
RCA | Mutual cooperation on development and promotion of cooperatives in Rwanda Purpose: develop cooperation in order to strengthen the capacity of cooperative sector in Rwanda through competencies of the two institutions Scope: offer each other opportunity to conduct various activities and programs such as training, curricula development and staff development that will foster cooperative relationship | |
23/10/2014 | Association Rwandaise pour le development rural/ Eastern Province | Build friendship and good will and foster a relationship that will support exchanges that promote meaningful civic engagement in a global context between ARDR and INILAK Establishment of joint service and community development projects, organization of joint research program, exchange of knowledge, ideas and training. |
3rd May 2013 | Moshi University College of cooperative and business studies, Tanzania | Create a mutual beneficial partnership with the object to facilitate academic staff exchange, improved research and enhance the sharing of educational resources, exchange of information and expertise Promote knowledge through research in the institutes in Rwanda and Tanzania Building a network of Tanzanian and Rwandan research experts in the areas of cooperative studies , maintaining relations and promoting exchanges within this network |
IMF Unguka | Un cadre d’échange qui est indispensable et bénéfique pour les deux parties a travers différentes activités notamment: les formations professionnaires et académiques, les stages, les documentations, encadrement et consultances | |
29/12/2010 | IPAR (Institute of Policy Analysis and Research-Rwanda24 months | Collaborating in research training and other initiatives relating to social and economic policy research |
25/06/2014 | National commission of science and technology(NCST)/10 years | Data sharing agreement: allow exchange of information to determine the extent to which mutual beneficial information sharing opportunities may exist between the two institutions |
Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees(MIDMAR) | Collaboration in doing joint research and conference Internship for UNILAK Students Etc……. |
Some of the research projects conducted jointly
1. Examining success factors for sustainable rural development through the integrated cooperative model ( MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, MOSHI UNIVERSITY, UNILAK, Canadian Cooperative Alliance (CCA))
2. Joint Environmental and natural research center (UNILAK-XIEG)
3. Rice firming and sustainable rural development in eastern province of Rwanda
4. Study of soil and water conservation and high yield efficient agriculture for mountain and hilly area in the upper reaches of Nile between UNILAK and Xian University
5. Examining the role of Agricultural cooperatives in achieving sustainable rural development UNILAK and Land O’Lakes
6. Etc….