IPB MagazineIssue NO 001 July - September 2012

Issue NO 001 July - September 2012 P.O. Box 25 Byumba ipbbyumba@ipb.ac.rw www.ipb.ac.rw

Also in the news:

43 awarded Master’s degrees inMaster of Business Administration

IPB to invest in anti-corruption campaign

IPB injects Rwf 8, 000, 000 in Agaciro Development Fund

IPB Social Sciences Department to boost development in Rwanda

Educatio . Scientia . Ministeria

IPB Magazine 33

Rector’s Foreword

Dear readers,

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to question why anyone in their right mind would launch an institutional magazine.

We believe that a magazine plays a paramount role in the daily life of any living institution. Hence we are convinced that the IPB Magazine will mirror the image of IPB: its daily activities and achievements. The content of this magazine is, therefore, as much about IPB current situation as it is about its recent past. Everything in here updates you in some way, because everything we do is aimed at informing you about IPB as a whole.

However, the Magazine takes a measured approach to the big picture: rather than telling readers everything that happens at IPB, the Magazine delivers only meaningful editorial and big-picture articles. The Magazine also goes beyond IPB boundaries and portrays the range of partnerships and any other projects initiated with its stakeholders in late 2012.

Dear esteemed readers,

With the pleasure from the Board of Directors and IPB Staff, we are honored to invite you to share with us the very first issue of our Magazine and the first one in this year 2013.

May God bless IPB,

May God bless you all.

Prof. Dr Faustin NYOMBAYIREIPB Rector

IPB Magazine4

Dear reader,

It’s been a long time waiting for this lovely IPB Magazine. Finally, the first issue of the latter is in your hands. The implementation of this project has

not been without problems but due to ceaseless efforts of Prof. Dr Faustin NYOMBAYIRE, it is realised. My ab imo pectore gratitude is addressed to him.

I also express my gratitude to the editorial committee for having contributed enormously to the translation of this project into reality by giving advice, guiding writing and proofreading alluring articles you are going to read.

Though it has been a long way to go, you now have this compilation that gives you insights on events that occurred during the period starting from July to the end of September 2012 and latest news that covered this period. It also comprises news related to partnerships between IPB and different stakeholders and ends with chronicles.

On behalf of the editorial team, I hereby wish you a happy prosperous new year of 2013. God bless you!

Editorial

Augustin KAREKEZI

Chief Editor and Public Relations and Communication Officer

IPB Magazine 55

Contents

6 . IPB held its 2nd Graduation Ceremony 278 awarded bachelor’s degrees in Management, Development studies and Social sciences departments;43 got their Master’s degrees in MBA.

7. New Students Committees sworn in The newly elected IPB Students Union’s were sworn in during a colourful ceremony that took place at IPB on 15 September 2012.

8 . IPB to Invest in Anti-corruption Campaign Members of Anti-corruption Club benefited a one-day seminar on fighting injustice and corruption under the auspices of IPB and the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Ten Commandments of Great Customer Service p.17

9 .Seminar on Employability skillsStudents tipped on how to easily get jobs

.IPB injects Rwf 8 million in Agaciro Development Fund

11. Entrepreneurship, one of the Pillars of Development of RwandaStudents were urged to invest the less they have and observe carefully the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) criteria for their projects to be successes.

14 . IPB Promotes Information Technology as a key to sustainable developmentthrough providing access to Computing and Communication Resources to students, staff and surrounding community to support its Learning, Research and Service to the Community missions.

PUBLISHERInstitut Polytechnique de Byumba

COORDINATORDUSABEMUNGU Théoneste

CHIEF EDITORKAREKEZI Augustin

Editorial CommitteeADVISORS

SIBOMANA Jean BoscoNIYONZIMA EliézelBAGARAGAZA François

IPB Magazine6

As it was scheduled, the 2nd graduation ceremony at IPB was held on the 2nd August 2012 at Byumba Stadium located in Gicumbi District. 278 graduands have been awarded their bachelor’s degrees in Management and Development studies and Social sciences departments. 43 got their Master’s degrees in MBA. This was the first time the IPB ever issued postgraduate degrees. This colourful event started by the arrival of graduands, students, parents and guests. The arrival of the guest of honour Dr Vincent BIRUTA the Minister of Education beaconed the beginning of the procession. After the procession, followed the National Anthem, the IPB Anthem, the prayer by H.E. Bishop Vincent HARORIMANA of Ruhengeri Diocese. After the prayer, Prof. Anastase SHYAKA declared the graduation ceremony opened officially. Nice dancers and drummers entertained the audience before the speech of the Rector of IPB who pointed out progress made by the IPB which include the Master’s degree issuing in collaboration with Worldwide E-learning Campus (WEC), and the extension of IPB activities in the Northern Province, Rulindo District and in the Eastern Province, Gatsibo District where IPB campuses are going to be operational soon. This is after Memoranda of

Understanding were signed between the Rector of IPB, Prof. Dr Faustin NYOMBAYIRE and Mayors of the two Districts mentioned above. This meets the IPB vision which consists of becoming a regional centre of radiation and expertise contributing to sustainable socio-economic development of the country and the entire region. After the conferment of degrees, the representative of graduands expressed students’ profound gratitude to the IPB administration and made requests concerning the speeding-up of the construction of the IPB new infrastructure. This will enable students learn comfortably, he underscored adding that the opening of new faculties would be warmly welcomed. The answer to this request is that the Anthropology option is going to be opened in the Department of Social Sciences of the existing Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies. New options in the Department of Management and Development Studies are the option of Microfinance and the option of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Management. In addition to that, two new faculties are to be created as it has been approved by the Board of Directors. Those are namely the Faculty of Education whose departments are the Department of Education in Arts and Humanities and the Department of Education in Sciences; the Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Management and Renewable Energy. Its departments are the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Management and Renewable Energy. Different interesting options are incorporated in these departments that make up these two faculties. IPB also offers short course programs like Certified Public Accountancy (CPA). The remark of the IPB Legal Representative, H.E. Bishop Servilien NZAKAMWITA, commended the effort made by IPB and promised the yield of IPB will always be improved. The speech of the Guest of Honour was also thankful to the effort made by IPB, reminded that the development of the country is education driven and urged graduands and the audience to think first of home solutions to problems undergone before waiting for any assistance from outside. After Dr BIRUTA’s remark, the president of the Board of Directors declared the graduation ceremony dissolved.

Augustin KAREKEZI PRCO

IPB held its 2nd Graduation Ceremony 278 awarded bachelor’s degrees in Management, Development studies and Social sciences departments and 43 got their Master’s degrees in MBA.

New options in the Department of Management and Development Studies are the option of Microfinance and the option of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Management. In addition to that, two new faculties are to be created soon.

‘‘

News & Events

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A colourful event took place at IPB on 15 September 2012. This is nothing else other than the swearing-in ceremony for

the newly elected IPB Students Union’s Arbitration committee and the Executive committee.

Presided over by the outgoing Arbitration Committee, the event was honoured by the presence of the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies, Mr Eliézel NIYONZIMA, who represented the Rector of IPB on a work tour outside the country. Were also present Lecturers, IPB students and delegations from students guild at NUR, PIAAS, ICK, KIE, Umutara Polytechnic University, and School of Nursing and Midwifery located in Byumba town, Gicumbi District. Simplicity, Accountability and Cooperation were three values the new guild president at IPB was asked to make his motto for one-year term the committee is going to last; which the addressee agreed to abide by.

The Vice President of the outgoing Executive committee drew the guild’s track record and mentioned challenges the outgoing committee faced. These challenges are to be met by the new guild. Responding to this speech, the new guild president

summarizes the new guild effort to meet these challenges into simplest sentences ‘We are, We must, We can’. Entertainment made up of comedy, and nice music by Mr Epison, Peace Flag group, Lucky Girls, S2B group was enjoyed at a great extent. Presents and certificates of merit were given to people who contributed to development of IPB and who accomplished well their duties during the outgoing guild term in office.

Addressing the audience, the guest of honour Mr, Eliézel NIYONZIMA, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies, not only thanked the outgoing guild, but also mentioned the fact IPB students are short of information about guild activities and urged the same students to have the culture of reading within them because sometimes, they ignore information which is availed. The attendance of libraries was another piece of advice to them.

Augustin KAREKEZI PRCO

New students committees sworn in

The elect Guild President of IPBSU taking his oath

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A one-day seminar on fighting injustice and

corruption was held at IPB on 26 September 2012. Beneficiaries were members of Anti-corruption Club operating at IPB and the seminar was sponsored and chaired by the Office of the Ombudsman. The speaker was Mr Jean Pierre HABIMANA from the unit in charge of preventing injustice, corruption and other related offences.

The seminar was conducted in the framework of implementing what was agreed upon in the existing Memorandum of Understanding between IPB and the Office of the Ombudsman, effective from 31 August 2011. Two main items made up the agenda of the seminar. The presenter, interacting with the audience, talked about the Office of the Ombudsman from its objectives, structure, duties and responsibilities, legal framework in which it operates etc. He went on explaining all about injustice and corruption and mechanism to fight these vices that

constitute a stumbling block to the development of Rwanda. Service delivery was another point discussed in this part. The second part dealt with the role of the anti-corruption club at IPB. In fact, one of MoU’s clauses between IPB and the Office of the Ombudsman stipulates that IPB will provide the population of Gicumbi District with a cyber café which is to be operated by the IPB anti-corruption club members in the fight against injustice and corruption. There are four ways of reaching the Office of the

Ombudsman, Mr Jean Pierre HABIMANA underscored, one of which being the use of internet to send complaints to the Office of the Ombudsman. It was agreed upon that the club will be receiving people’s complaints in three days and these will be sent to the Office of the Ombudsman on the very third day. The club will be doing this after opening e-mails for people seeking the Office of the Ombudsman’s help. This becomes effective in a week’s time after it is agreed upon.

To wind up the seminar, the professional in fighting injustice

from the Office of the Ombudsman expressed his gratitude to participants and to IPB for the existing cooperation between the two respective institutions and IPB officials present wholeheartedly thanked the Office of the Ombudsman for unfading collaboration.

Augustin KAREKEZIPRCO

IPB to Invest in Anti-corruption Campaign

Participants to the seminar on anti-corruption

The meeting took place at IPB on Saturday 21 July 2012. It was chaired by Mr SAMVURA Théophile, the former guild

president of AGEIPB.The president started by welcoming the Rector of IPB and all participants in the meeting. He thanked the Rector for his contribution in terms of ideas and financial support to the progress of activities undertaken by AGEIPB. During this ending mandate of AGEIPB, Mr SAMVURA Theophile explained the activities done and their progress:- Different clubs started operating at IPB: Entrepreneurship, Anti-corruption clubs, etc.- Rehabilitation of the house of the widows of 1994 genocide perpetrated against Tutsi, and this activity was done in collaboration with AERG.- Helping in organizing the memorial night of 1994 genocide perpetrated against Tutsi at IPB.- Undertaking discussions with IPB administration to solve problems related to the courses or studying environment in general.The Rector said that IPB will never stop supporting AGEIPB, but transparency and accountability in all financial transactions

through written documents and proper planning should be put in place; adding that the club of sport and culture should be reinforced as its role is paramount for students; and a football match should be organized between IPB administration and employees, the Rector pointed out. In order to facilitate the students to follow their courses, ensure radiation and spread expertise, this being a vision for IPB, teaching centers will be soon opened at Shyorongi in Rulindo District and at Kiramuruzi in Gatsibo District. The Rector announced the date of graduation which was 2 August 2012 and asked the committee to mobilize all students to attend that important event. He added that all students with good performance will be rewarded and are potentially among those who might get employed by IPB. The Rector closed his word by appreciating the work done by the outgoing committee and asking the committee to give the necessary support to the new committee.

UMUPFASONI Anitha General Secretary/ IPBSU

The Rector meets IPBSU

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The Gicumbi District general assembly meeting was held

on 4 September 2012 in URUMURI Hotel. The meeting was chaired by the Mayor of Gicumbi District, Mr Alexandre MVUYEKURE and the guest of honour in this meeting was the Governor of the Northern Province Mr Aimé BOSENIBAMWE. Agaciro Development Fund

was part of the agenda.

The Governor, explaining the philosophy behind Agaciro Development Fund, pointed out the fact that the spirit of team work remains the key to success and that the destiny of Rwanda lies in hands of Rwandese; adding that sacrifice must be one of paramount values for the country to develop. After the Governor addressed the assembly, followed the flow for people who, willingly,

were eager to contribute to the development of the country; a home made solution leading to the destiny of the country, which is to be shaped by Rwandese. Many individuals, associations, public and private institutions contributed to this noble action. IPB community was not left out and it is in this framework that a sum worth 8,000,000 RWF was contributed by IPB in

Agaciro Development Fund. The total contribution to Agaciro Development Fund in this meeting was 401,762,633 RWF.

The Governor of the Northern Province closed the meeting after commending wholeheartedly the population of Gicumbi District effort to contribute to the development of Rwanda.

Augustin KAREKEZI PRCO

IPB injects Rwf 8 million in Agaciro Development Fund

The Rector of IPB (right) on the occasion

Seminar on Employability skills

On 2 September 2012 the Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies organized a seminar for level V

students on employability skills. Three speakers were on the agenda: Mr RUKUNDO Frend, Mr NIYONZIMA Eliezer, and Mr NIYIBIZI Francois Xavier.

The first speaker, Mr RUKUNDO Frend is a lecturer and Director of the Career Advisory Centre at ULK. He explained the main employability skills such as communication skills, teamwork skills, problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise skills, planning and organising skills, self-management skills, learning skills, technology skills. He also talked about CV writing and interview skills.

The second speaker, Mr NIYONZIMA Eliezer is the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies at IPB. He is also the coordinator of Career Advisory Centre at IPB. He talked about the IPB Career Advisory Centre. He presented the background and mission of IPB CAC, its state and challenges as well as its objectives and activities.

The third speaker, Mr NIYIBIZI Francois Xavier is the Head of the Department of Management and Development Studies at IPB. He talked about work ethics: meaning of work ethics, types of work ethics, ethical problems related to work, and code of work ethics.

Briefly this seminar was intended to introduce students to how to get on the jobs: the employability skills that they need to be competitive on the labour market, the support that they can get from IPB CAC in that process, and how they can maintain their jobs through observation of work ethics.

Eliezer NIYONZIMA Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies

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The IPB’s Faculty of SSMDS visits Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre

On 7 September 2012, students from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Management and Development Studies visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.

These students, accompanied by their lecturers, visited this centre in a bid to know deeply what genocide is and how to eradicate it. After explanations provided by Miss Lydie UMUTESI, a centre guide, the IPB community present head-ed straight for graves where victims of the genocide are laid to rest. A spray of flowers was placed on one of graves, respect paid to the deceased, and the group toured the centre. Three sections of this memorial centre have been visited. These are a section that deals with the genocide perpetrated against Tutsi, a section about other genocides that occurred in History else-

where and a section dedicated to children that were slaughtered during the 1994 genocide perpetrated against Tutsi. After this tour in the centre, assistance worth 100,000 RWF was given to Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre by the Faculty of So-cial Sciences, Management and Development Studies at IPB.

Students affirmed to know where genocide takes its roots from, to be ready to lead research on genocide, to ensure that it is prevented, and to translate the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ into action.

Augustin KAREKEZIPRCO

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Entrepreneurship, one of the Pillars of Development of Rwanda

The ‘Institut Polytechnique de Byumba’ (IPB) is aware that, though one of its missions is scientific,

higher, polytechnic and academic teaching of quality, not all students it shapes are going to get jobs in both public and private sectors. It is also aware that the same students are not submitted to unemployment.

It is in this framework that students from Department of Social Sciences and Management and Development Studies visited URWIBUTSO Enterprise. The

aim of this one day visit was to learn from an entrepreneur who got a great deal of success, Mr SINA Gerard. After students and some of their lecturers arrived at NYIRANGARAMA, they headed for the hall where they met Mr Jean Baptiste HABANABAKIZE, the enterprise officer in charge of customer care. This officer exhibited different products of the enterprise, explaining steps undertaken by the owner of the enterprise in collaboration with his staff to attain the status quo. He pointed out the enterprise achievements in the region like

poverty alleviation among local population, the school built by Mr SINA Gerard where students gain knowledge free of charge among others. Mr SINA Gerard explained the whole process of his entrepreneurship, urged students to invest the less they have and observe carefully the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) criteria for their projects to be successes. One sentence summarizes all that the successful entrepreneur told the IPB students privileged to get the lecture: ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’.

Concluding their visit, IPB students and their lecturers visited different sites where the enterprise activities are carried out. These are classified into two main domains: agriculture and animal husbandry.

Augustin KAREKEZIPRCO

Students were urged to invest the less they have and observe carefully the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) criteria for their projects to be successes.

IPB students interact with the in charge of customer care during their working visit at URWIBUTSO Enterprise

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IPB fights soil erosion

In the community work (umuganda) done on 29 September 2012, IPB conveyed its efforts to fighting soil erosion. This is in a bid to

translate one of its set goals of preserving a healthy environment for present and future generations into reality. Water channels and pits have been dug, by IPB staff, across IPB Campus 2. This has been done because IPB is located in a mountainous region where, if rain water was not contained, soil erosion would take fertile soil to low levelled areas. Rain water would also destroy houses for people living in the surrounding area. IPB efforts in fighting soil erosion started to be operational when it (IPB) put in place tree nursery from which trees are distributed, in collaboration with government institutions like the National Police of Rwanda, to people for planting in different areas of Gicumbi District.Concluding the action, the Vice Rector Academic, Prof. Dr Juvénal NSHIMIYIMANA, commended the devotion with which the umuganda has been carried out and pointed out the fact that the action should go on because the fight to preserve the environment is ceaseless.

Augustin KAREKEZI

PRCO

IPB’s Social Sciences Department on the threshold of Boosting Development in Rwanda

Saturday 14 July, 2012 at Institut Polytechnique de Byumba, a seminar

grouping together lecturers and all students of Social Sciences Department was organized. This seminar was delivered by Mathilde MUKANTABANA, a Rwandan teaching in SACRAMENTO University in USA and chairperson of FORA (Friends of Rwanda Association). The seminar was moderated by the Vice Rector in charge of Academics and Research, Prof. Dr Juvénal NSHIMIYIMANA.

The aim of the seminar was to help students of Social Work option to understand more about this new field in Rwanda.

The seminar articulated around the following items: Historical background of Social Work Option; The Role of Social Workers in Rwanda reconstruction process; Challenges in Social Work profession and Suggestions.

The historical background of social work

The presenter said that Social work has its origin in the struggle of society to deal with poverty and the problems associated with it. She therefore pointed out that social work was linked to charitable actions but added that it should be nowadays understood in a global view.

She explained that Social Work as a profession originated in the 19th century in the era of industrial Revolution with the growth and

improvement in technological and scientific achievements and the social problems associated to it. She added that the profession began primarily in the United States AND England by social activists trying to solve the problems inherent to large cities like poverty, prostitution, diseases and other afflictions.

She went on saying that in Rwanda, this profession started after genocide perpetrated against Tutsi in 1994 for the purpose of reconstructing the country. It began in the National University of Rwanda and later on in IPB and at Save.

The role of social workers in Rwanda

She started by saying that social work is a new field which is not well known in Rwanda, whereas no other profession should be greater than social work since social workers are needed in every domain of activities considering the bad history and the genocide perpetrated against Tutsi our country has experienced.

However, According to the presenter, social workers play the following main roles in the reconstruction process:

- Advocators: in the context of Rwanda reconstruction process, social workers are advocators for vulnerable groups facing complex challenges including poverty, family violence,

In collaboration with Worldwide E-Learning Campus (India), IPB informs all the prospective candidates that available MBA programmes at IPB are:

1. MBA Finance2. MBA Human Resources3. MBA Marketing4. MBA Operations Management5. MBA Project Management6. MBA Environmental Management

You are most welcome! For this and more about IPB, visit us on www.ipb.ac.rw.You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

IPB Magazine 1313

HIV/AIDS, trauma and so on.

- Enablers: social workers can empower clients at different levels to adapt to the fast changing world and promote sustainable development in Rwanda.

- Mediators: In this perspective, social workers play a main role in the process of Unity and Reconciliation.

- Counselors: social workers play a big role in helping people to cope with problems inherent to genocide perpetrated against Tutsi in 1994 and other crucial problems.

- Policymakers, planners and implementers of some social policies …

Challenges of Social Work

According to the presenter, some of the problems social work is facing are the following:

- Social work is a great new discipline which is still little known by the community and the decision makers;

- Loss of social economic capacity,

- To adapt theory to practice,

- Adhering international social work association,

- The fact that the curriculum of social work is not adapted to the reality of Rwanda.

Suggestions on how Social work profession should be improved

After a series of questions from students, different participants, namely the presenter, the Vice Rector academic and some lecturers, gave answers as solutions on how social work should be improved.

- Self-marketing by social workers themselves;

- Organize field trips by the institution;

- Adhering to the international social work association;

- To organize social work open day in the institution;

- Incorporate in the curriculum courses of international social work;

- Social workers should be comfortable, and be self-confident in their profession;

- Translation of global policy to local reality;

- Social worker should treat the problem of the whole society, and transcend their biases;

- Strengthening social work associations and make them active;

- Be involved and active in social problems resolution where you live and work.

SIBOMANA Jean Bosco

Head of Social Sciences Department

From page 12

Ms Mathilde Mukantabana speaking on Community Organizing

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IPB Promotes Information Technology as a key to sustainable development

Academic Freedom is central to the mission of higher education. Therefore, Institut Polytechnique

de Byumba (IPB) respects and encourages the free exchange and debate of ideas, including electronic interchanges and all manner of electronic inquiry and publishing in a manner that complies with IPB policy and regulations. Within this context, IPB provides access to Computing and Communication Resources to students, staff and surrounding community to support its Learning, Research and Service to the Community missions.

Within this perspective, in addition to various Information Technology resources used in its offices, Institut Polytechnique de Byumba (IPB) has also provided ICT facilities to students and the population in surrounding area in general.

1. Students

Apart from computer laboratories used during lectures and computers available in Libraries, an Electronic Library has been set up in Byumba town center. Its purpose is to facilitate students to perform their researches by:

Consulting online documentation

Downloading syllabuses

Getting updated timetables and other important communications

from IPB

Sending course works to lecturers

As the Institution regularly pays subscription fees to internet suppliers, students are charged a small amount of 200Rwf / hour each time they attend the E-Library in order to keep it going on. The E-Library is opened from 08h00a.m to 21h00p.m (from Monday to Saturday) and from 08h00a.m to 12h00a.m (on Sunday). Students who are in the final academic year (Level V) have regularly 2 free hours per day in order to facilitate them to perform their research projects.

2. Surrounding community

IPB helps the community as follows:

2.1. E-library

In IPB E-library, services like printing, scanning, binding, learning computer skills and use of internet are also offered to people from the outside of IPB. Charges differ depending upon the rendered service.

2.2. Cyber café

In collaboration with the Office of Ombudsman Rwanda, a cyber café has been opened to serve people to pass information in case of corruption or any other kinds of injustice.

IPB has volunteers from the Anti-corruption Club who help individuals to create and send e-mails to the office of Ombudsman in the ongoing fight against corruption and injustice.

Jean Premier Bienvenu RUKUNDO

Director/ ICT

Wise quotes1. The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.Mohandas K. Gandhi

2.Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Plato

3.Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning is young.Henry Ford

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L’Agroforesterie, un Défi Majeur pour l’IPB

L’IPB est une institution qui dispense un enseignement supérieur dans diverses disciplines connexes à l’agriculture. Dans le cadre de son rayonnement, de

service à la communauté et dans l’objectif de dispenser une formation pratique orientée à la résolution des problèmes de terrain propre au pays et à la sous région l’IPB en collaboration avec Vi Life une ONG Internationale de droit suédois qui encadre les fermiers dans divers aspects du développement agricole, ont convenu de mettre sur pied un centre d’agroforesterie.

C’est en 2010 que les deux institutions se sont mises d’accord pour œuvrer ensemble en vue de se compléter et mieux servir les intérêts de la population cible. Dans cette perspective, un accord de partenariat a été signé et consacrait les termes de la collaboration intéressant aussi bien la vulgarisation, la recherche, l’éducation ainsi que l’échange d’information et du matériel documentaire.

Dans l’esprit dudit accord, une idée de créer un centre de recherche et d’encadrement en agroforesterie est née. Vu que les projets de Vi-LIFE en Afrique de l’Est s’étendent sur l’Uganda entre autres et qu’il a déjà établi un centre de recherche fonctionnel en agroforesterie depuis au moins une décennie, il a été jugé opportun d’y effectuer une visite afin

d’apprendre de leur expérience. C’est en septembre 2010 que cette visite a eu lieu.

Apres la visite en Uganda, il y a eu des rencontres entre les deux partenaires en vue d’étudier les modalités de création d’un centre presque identique au Rwanda.

En collaboration avec VI-LIFE, le terrain Kasehuma (Secteur de Byumba) a été identifié par l’IPB comme lieu approprié pour héberger ce centre.

L’objectif général qui sous-tend la création d’un Centre de Recherche en Agroforesterie de Kasehuma (CRAK) est de contribuer à la sécurité alimentaire dans la zone de rayonnement de l’IPB.

En effet, le CRAK sera un lieu où les fermiers pourront soit faire des visites d’études, soit y être formés sur le tas; tandis que les étudiants, les enseignants et les chercheurs de l’IPB et des autres institutions d’enseignement ou de recherche, y mèneront leurs recherches et les formations académiques.

Ir Isaac MUBASHANKWAYA

Directeur de la consultance et de la production

Pépinière de l’IPB

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Commandments 10

1Know who is boss. You are in business to service customer needs, and you can only do that if you know what it is your customers want. When you truly listen to your customers, they let you know what they want and how you can provide good service. Never forget that the customer pays our salary and makes your job possible.

2Be a good listener. Take the time to identify customer needs by asking questions and concentrating on what the customer is really saying. Listen to their words, tone of voice, body language, and most importantly, how they feel. Beware of making assumptions - thinking you intuitively know what the customer wants. Do you know what three things are most important to your customer?Effective listening and undivided attention are particularly important on the show floor where there is a great danger of preoccupation - looking around to see to whom else we could be selling to.

3Identify and anticipate needs. Customers don’t buy products or services. They buy good feelings and solutions to problems. Most customer needs are emotional rather than logical. The more you know your customers, the better you become at anticipating their needs. Communicate regularly so that you are aware of problems or upcoming needs.

4Make customers feel important and appreciated. Treat them as individuals. Always use their name and find ways to compliment them, but be sincere. People value sincerity. It creates good feeling and trust. Think about ways to generate good feelings about doing business with you. Customers are very sensitive and know whether or not you really care about them. Thank them every time you get a chance.On the show floor be sure that your body language conveys sincerity. Your words and actions should be congruent.

Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. According to Turban et al. (2002),“Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_service)

of Customer Service

IPB Magazine 1717

Source: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1537-great-customer-service-tips.html

10Treat employees well. Employees are your internal customers and need a regular dose of appreciation. Thank them and find ways to let them know how important they are. Treat your employees with respect and chances are they will have a higher regard for customers. Appreciation stems from the top. Treating customers and employees well is equally important.

5Help customers understand your systems. Your organization may have the world’s best systems for getting things done, but if customers don’t understand them, they can get confused, impatient and angry. Take time to explain how your systems work and how they simplify transactions. Be careful that your systems don’t reduce the human element of your organization.

6Appreciate the power of “Yes”. Always look for ways to help your customers. When they have a request (as long as it is reasonable) tell them that you can do it. Figure out how afterwards. Look for ways to make doing business with you easy. Always do what you say you are going to do.

7Know how to apologize. When something goes wrong, apologize. It’s easy and customers like it. The customer may not always be right, but the customer must always win. Deal with problems immediately and let customers know what you have done. Make it simple for customers to complain. Value their complaints. As much as we dislike it, it gives us an opportunity to improve. Even if customers are having a bad day, go out of your way to make them feel comfortable.

8Give more than expected. Since the future of all companies lies in keeping customers happy, think of ways to elevate yourself above the competition. Consider the following:• What can you give customers that they cannot get elsewhere?• What can you do to follow-up and thank people even when they don’t buy?• What can you give customers that is totally unexpected?

9Get regular feedback. Encourage and welcome suggestions about how you could improve. There are several ways in which you can find out what customers think and feel about your services.• Listen carefully to what they say.• Check back regularly to see how things are going.• Provide a method that invites constructive criticism, comments and suggestions.

IPB Magazine18

IPB and Gatsibo District sign MoU in research programmes

This MoU was signed on 31 July 2012 by the Rector of IPB, Prof. Dr Faustin NYOMBAYIRE, and the Mayor of Gatsibo District, Mr Ambroise RUBONEZA at Gicumbi. Specific objectives of this MoU are: undertaking a mutual collaboration in the development and execution of research project proposals,

exchanging information through researchers programs and transferring various documents and invitations, facilitating students doing internships and academic dissertations in Gatsibo District. Areas covered by the collaboration of the two signatories consist of faculty of education, environmental management

and renewable energy and social sciences, management and development studies. The MoU also defines responsibilities of the two partners. Holding speeches on the occasion, the two officials pointed out the fact the partnership is long termed and that both IPB and Gatsibo District communities

are going to benefit from this cooperation, and thus, the country at large. It is necessary to point out the fact that MoU in the same framework have been signed between IPB and Rulindo District in May 2012.

The Rector of IPB (in the middle) and the Mayor of Gatsibo District (right) signing the MoU

IPB Chronicles

Here are important dates reflecting events that occurred at IPB during this three-month period from the July to October 2012:

- 12 July: A study tour took a delegation from IPB to INATEK to learn more about the organization of graduation ceremony.

- 17 July: A one day seminar was held at IPB by Ms Mathilde MUKANTABANA, a Rwandan teaching at SACRAMENTO University in USA and chairperson of FORA (Friends of Rwanda Association) under the theme Community Organising. Beneficiaries were IPB Lecturers in the option of Social Work.

- 25 July: A meeting of the Managing Committee was organised and chaired by the Rector of IPB. The Executive Committee met at the same day and reshuffled Directorates structure at IPB.

- 28 July: General Umuganda dedicated to cleaning up the venue for the Second Graduation Ceremony.

- 2 August: Occurrence of the Second Graduation Ceremony at IPB where degrees on undergraduate and post-graduate levels were conferred to graduands. A MoU between IPB and the District of Gatsibo was signed. This stipulates the partnership between the two.

- 5 August: The Rector of IPB met IPB staff. Self-assessment on the Second Graduation Ceremony was the agenda.

- 8 August: Hand-over between the new and the outgoing Directors following Directorates reshuffle.

- 25 August: General Umuganda at IPB nursing tree for the protection of environment and the fight against soil erosion.

- 30 August: Meeting of the RPF Task Force at IPB

- 3 September: Extra-ordinary meeting of the Executive Council at IPB on Agaciro Development Fund.

- 5 September: Participation of the Rector of IPB in the General Assembly of Gicumbi District. AgDF was the main agenda and IPB contributed a sum worth 8,000,000 Rwf to this Rwandan initiative.

- 7 September: IPB students from Social Sciences and Management and Development Studies departments visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and URWIBUTSO Enterprise.

- 15 September: IPB Students’ Association Committees were sworn in.

- 18 September: Election of missing members of three RPF official structures, IPB Task Force.

- 29 September: Anti-erosion driven Umuganda done across IPB Campus 2.

Partnership