Rwanda: Sustainable Development

Rwanda Study Abroad 2024

Quick Links

Program Contacts

  • Valerie Thomas
    ISyE, Anderson-Interface Chair of Natural Systems and Professor
  • Tony Giarrusso
    CRP, Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director, Center for Spatial Planning Analytics and Visualization

Program Link

Description

The Rwanda Study Abroad: Sustainable Development program engages students in a semester-long sustainable development learning experience. Students will begin working on sustainable development projects at the beginning of the semester and will travel to Rwanda during spring break to meet with Rwandan students, entrepreneurs, and government officials to learn about development challenges first hand and to develop context for their project learning. After the visit, students will continue their projects and complete them by the end of the semester.

In addition to project work, students will visit national universities, private companies, renewable energy sites, and a national park while in Rwanda to learn about challenges in energy development, agriculture, and wildlife conservation. They will also study the history, culture, and conservation efforts under way during visits to museums, memorials, and discussions with Rwandan students, faculty, business professionals, and government officials.

2023 Rwanda Study Abroad Participants

Dates: March 16 – March 23, 2024
Location: Kigali and Musanze, Rwanda.
Accommodations: Students will stay in double-occupancy hotel rooms during the international component of the program.

Rwanda Agricultural Board’s Kinigi Station, Musanze, Rwanda. View of Volcanoes National Park in the background.

A typical market in Rwanda.

A typical market in Rwanda.

Corn is growing in the valley and up the hill; bananas are growing on the hillside. Agricultural workers can be seen in the valley.

Corn is growing in the valley and up the hill; bananas are growing on the hillside. Agricultural workers can be seen in the valley.

A visit to the GigaWatt Solar power plant in Rwanda. Valerie Thomas, Paul Rugambwa, GigaWatt Solar engineer, and Jonathan Colton.

A visit to the GigaWatt Solar power plant in Rwanda. Valerie Thomas, Paul Rugambwa, GigaWatt Solar engineer, and Jonathan Colton.

Courses

Each of these courses has a Rwanda Study Abroad Section:

  • ISYE 6701 – Energy Technology and Policy
  • ISYE 4501 – Energy, Efficiency and Sustainability
  • CP 4510 – Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems

Note: This is an embedded course program. An Embedded Program is an Atlanta-based course that includes a travel component. The majority of the class takes place in Atlanta. Students must register for the Study Abroad section of one of the courses for the spring semester.

Prerequisites: ISYE 6701 is a graduate course. ISYE 4501 and CP 4510 are undergraduate courses.

Cost

  • The deposit is $500, which goes toward the program fee.
  • The program fee is approximately $3,250. Fee include: round trip airfare, hotel (double occupancy), all meals, visa, cultural and business site visits, and in-country transportation. Out of pocket costs include transportation to and from the Atlanta airport, transit costs, and spending money while in Rwanda. Former participants spent anywhere from 50$ – 250$ dollars while in Rwanda, primarily on souvenirs. 
  • 3 hours tuition at Georgia Tech, and other Tech fees.

Requirements

  • a grade of B or above in the study abroad class before plane tickets will be purchased
  • a valid passport (U.S. passport cards are not valid)

Meetings

Informational meeting will be held in early January. Check out the 2023 Study Abroad StoryMap created by the six study abroad participants.

Please contact one of the program directors to learn more.