Interlinking TVET with Rwanda's agri-food industry

Rwanda is undergoing a transformation of its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, placing competence-based training at the centre of its approach. This shift aims to ensure that graduates, the new skilled craftsmen, are not only knowledgeable but also equipped with practical skills matching the needs of the labour market. The Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture (ISHEMA) project plays a key role in supporting the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) in this transition, particularly in the development of future TVET Centres of Excellence. Through structured collaboration with industry, ISHEMA is helping to ensure that TVET programmes are closely aligned with the demands of the industry.

A cornerstone of ISHEMA’s support is its participatory approach to developing occupation profiles, standards, curricula and training modules, grounded in strong industry engagement.

Since the beginning of the project, numerous workshops have brought together industry practitioners, TVET teachers and trainers, and RTB and ministerial representatives. These workshops create a space for meaningful exchange, allowing stakeholders to jointly define the skills and competencies required in the labour market.

The process follows a structured and coherent methodology :

• development of occupation profiles and standards : industry experts and educators jointly identify job roles, tasks and competencies required in specific sectors;
• curriculum development : competence-based curricula are then developed, focusing on learning outcomes and practical skills;
• modularisation : learning is broken into a flexible block-based approach, to strengthen hands-on training and facilitate adaptive delivery approaches.

The Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture (ISHEMA) project is funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and implemented by the Rwanda TVET Board and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.