Contacts:

        ·        Address: Huye (PUR)

       ·       PoBox 619 Huye

       ·       Phone number: +250788607209 (Call & WhatsApp)

     ·       Email address: [email protected] & [email protected]

Skills:

·       Organizational & self-organizational skills

·       Communication and interpersonal skills

·       Multitasking

·       Reporting skills

·       Managerial skills

·       Research skills

·       Presentation and public speaking skills

 

1.    Profile

I am a highly organized, dedicated and hardworking person with a proven ability to improve the working environment and a commitment to co-workers’ welfare. I possess strong interpersonal skills and demonstrate a sense of respect, integrity and transparency when relating to others as well as a sense of discretion when dealing with confidential information. I am motivated to work and to learn, I am keen to explore new things and ready to grow from potential challenges encountered.

2.    Working Experience

 

Permanent Lecturer at the Protestant University of Rwanda (PUR)/Huye Campus (01.03.2024-Current)

As a lecturer at the PUR, I am responsible for teaching, providing feedback, assessing and marking modules related to teachers' professional ethics, developmental psychology and school legislation and management in undergraduate programs. Similarly, I supervise students' dissertations at the end of their undergraduate studies.

Besides, I am responsible for teaching modules related to education quality development in our Master's Program of Education in Quality Education Management (MEQUAM). Again, I supervise students' scientific work in this Master's program.

Dean of the faculty of Education at PUR (01.05.2025 – Current)

In the capacity of the Dean of the Faculty, I fulfil a wide range of responsibilities, including the following:

I. Academic Management:

§  Overseeing academic programs and ensuring their quality and relevance.

§  Monitoring the implementation of curricula, and programmes of research and services to the community

§  Leading curriculum development and review processes.

§  Supporting faculty research and scholarly activities.

§  Making proposals of research projects for funding.

II. Strategic Planning and Policy Implementation:

§  Developing and executing strategic goals for the faculty in alignment with the university’s mission.

§  Implementing institutional policies and developing faculty-specific policies.

§  Developing action plans for the faculty

III. Faculty Management:

§  Supervising, monitoring and evaluating the teaching, research, administrative and technical staff

§  Participating in hiring, evaluating, and supporting academic staff.

§  Promoting professional development and ensuring academic standards.

§  Chairing Faculty Council and Faculty Bureau meetings

IV. Student Affairs:

§  Ensuring quality student support services.

§  Addressing students’ concerns and promoting a positive learning environment.

V. Budget and Resource Allocation:

§  Managing the faculty’s budget and allocating resources efficiently.

§  Securing funding and overseeing financial planning.

VI. External Relations:

§  Representing the faculty within the university and to external stakeholders.

§  Building partnerships with schools, alumni, government, and other academic institutions.

VII. Governance and Compliance:

§  Ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and institutional regulations.

§  Participating in university governance and committees.

Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education at PUR (01.09.2024 – 30.04.2025)

In this capacity, I assisted the Dean of the faculty in carrying out his duties, and I replaced him in case he was absent. Specifically, I fulfilled the following duties:

§  Coordinating teaching activities within the faculty;

§  Stimulating and monitoring research activities within the faculty;

§  Monitoring programmes and making proposals for their updating;

§  Coordinating the monitoring of students’ internships;

§  Examining any question relating to the discipline of the teaching, research, administrative, and technical staff of the faculty;

 

Coordinator of International Master Program for Educational Quality in Developing countries (IMPEQ VI) (01.03.2024 – 30.04.2025)

The International Master Program for Educational Quality in Developing countries (IMPEQ) was initiated by the University of Bamberg (Germany) in collaboration with the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences-PISS (Rwanda), Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs-ULPGL (DRC), and Université Evangélique du Cameroun-UEC (Cameroon)

I was in charge of coordinating the activities of the IMPEQ VI cohort from the side of Africa (PUR). In this capacity, I was in charge of the administrative, financial and pedagogical organization of the program, especially during students' stay in Rwanda. Similarly, I worked and continue to work as a mentor to students, where I provide them with individual support in their learning process.

MEQUAM Program Leader (01.03.2024 – 30.04.2025)

The Master of Education in Quality Education Management (MEQUAM) is a Master's program initiated by the Protestant University of Rwanda (PUR). I was the program leader since March 2024. In this capacity, I was in charge of the administrative, financial, and pedagogical organization of the Program. I did the planning of teaching and learning; I taught and continue to teach some modules related to the development of the quality of education and I do supervision of students' scientific works.

Part-time Assistant Lecturer: PUR/Karongi Campus (March 2017 - June 2022)

Being a part-time lecturer at the PUR, I was responsible for teaching, assessing, and marking the modules of Inclusive and special educational needs as well as Introduction to research methodology to students in the faculty of education. Similarly, I assisted students in the final year in their research activities and dissertation writing as per the requirements of the University.

Secondary School Principal: Presbyterian Church in Rwanda - Kirinda (January 2006 – 10.04.2024)

Being a Headmaster I was in charge of coordinating the whole activities of the school including the financial planning of the school, leading the team to design and enact the school vision, supervising teachers in their teaching practices and providing them with feedback, presiding over the meetings of school staff and students, assisting teachers in the implementation of educational changes, reforms and innovations, undertaking and overseeing initiatives likely to enhance the quality of education in the school, organizing the communication with the school stakeholders, doing advocacy to the Government for some development initiatives, initiating new options with the school, working smoothly with partners and helping to maintain the partnership.

Teacher Trainer: Government of Rwanda (MIFOTRA) Karongi - TTC Rubengera (January 2005 - December 2005)

Being a teacher trainer, I was responsible for training the soon-to-be primary school teachers, taking them to primary schools for their teaching practice, supervising their internships and giving them feedback regarding their teaching practice

Volunteer Work: Junge Menschen für Afrika (JMFA) in Kirinda (31.01.2007 – Current)

I work as an educational specialist in the framework of JMFA projects and activities designed to promote education in the rural area of Kirinda. To this end, I support by sharing my educational expertise, assisting in developing project ideas and implementing them as well as financial management of ongoing projects. In this perspective, I contributed to the establishment of a model kindergarten in Kirinda

Volunteer Work: Presbyterian Church in Rwanda - Kirinda Parish (May 2023 – Current)

I was the President of the Executive Committee of Kirinda Parish since 2011. In this quality, I chaired a host of meetings where different developmental projects were discussed and was involved in decision-making.

Volunteer Work: Presbyterian Church in Rwanda - Kirinda Presbytery (August 2014 – 2023)

I was the President of the Executive Committee of Kirinda Presbytery from 2014 to 2023. In this quality, I supported the newly founded Presbytery to grow and adapt to the new decentralization policy. I chaired meetings where developmental projects were discussed, I was involved in the decision-making process, and I provided advice where need be.

Social Work Volunteer: Junge Menschen fur Afrika (JMFA) Kirinda (January 2006 – Current)

I have been a member of the JMFA local committee in Kirinda since 2007. In this quality, I am actively involved in different educational, social, and developmental projects which are conducted in Kirinda in partnership with this association.

3.    Educational Background summary

 

PhD Studies at the University of Bamberg (July 2019-2023)

I did my PhD studies at the Chair of Foundation of Education at the University of Bamberg. I successfully completed my Doctoral oral exam on the 15^th of December 2023. I did research and wrote a PhD thesis on the topic of “Teachers' perceptions of the change in schooling: An empirical case study of Rwanda”

Master of Arts (October 2015-July 2017): University of Bamberg, Germany

Within a period of two years, I covered several modules related to quality development, quality monitoring, measuring, and documentation as well as research. In the framework of this program, I developed a project of training secondary school teachers on the topic of “High cognitive activation by complex tasks.”

Bachelor of Arts (1999-2005): National University of Rwanda

Besides one year of English course, I covered a variety of modules related to the foundation of education, school legislation and administration, and research

High School Diploma (September 1995-July 1998): Groupe Scolaire Saint André, Kigali

 

4.             Accomplishments

 

Articles, Theses and Dissertations

§  Gahutu, C. (2024). Perceptions of teachers on the change in schooling: an empirical case study of Rwanda (Vol. 7). University of Bamberg Press.

• Niyibizi, Emmanuel, Nyiramana, C., & Gahutu, C. (2023). Initial teacher training curriculum for global education in Rwanda. ZEP: Zeitschrift Für Internationale Bildungsforschung Und Entwicklungspädagogik, 46(3).
• Niyibizi, E., & Gahutu, C. (2021). Educational governance in Rwanda. Coordinating action for equity through cooperation between education providers. ZEP: Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik, 44(4), 14-18.
• Gahutu, C. (2021). High Cognitive Activation by Complex Tasks: An Instructional Approach for Quality Improvement in Rwandan Secondary Schools. PIASS Publication Series, Nº 23

Seminars and conferences attended

• 04-06.06.2025: ANGEL 5^th International Conference on Global Education and Learning. The conference was hosted at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin and it took the title of "Research in Global Education and Learning: For Democracy, Peace, Human Rights, Sustainability, and Global Social Justice". I did presentation of our article on Initial teacher training curriculum for global education in Rwanda
• 19-20/06/2023: ANGEL Conference organized by UNESCO Education Sector. The topic of the conference was "Global Citizenship Education and Learning for a Just, Peaceful and Sustainable World"
• 19-21/11/2022: RUPA Graduate School Academy hosted at PIASS. I was actively involved in the academic and professional workshops organized in the framework of RUPA[1] Graduate School Academy which was held in Butare. As some presentations were done virtually by scholars based in Germany, I was responsible for the on-site organization, facilitation of learning and mentoring of participants on the spot.
• 15-16/02/2021: 6th IMPEQ Conference on Education for Peace hosted by ULPGL, but the conference was conducted virtually. The conference was jointly organized by Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg (Germany); Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (Rwanda); Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (DRC) and Université Evangelique du Cameroun (Cameroon)
• 10-11/06/2020: ANGEL Early career researchers conference hosted by Oulu University, Finland. The conference brought together researchers from different contexts and different geographical locations to discuss a variety of topics related to the idea of Research on Global Education and Learning
• 22-23/11/2020 – Bamberg University: 2nd PhD Colloquia of the Doctorate School on Adult Education. The Colloquia was jointly organized by Bamberg and Bochum Universities in the framework of three PhD projects which are financed by VEM
• 11-12/02/2020: Huye (Rwanda). 5th Conference of the International Master Program of Educational Quality in Developing Countries (IMPEQ) hosted by PIASS. The conference was jointly organized by Bamberg University (Germany), the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (Rwanda); Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (DRC) and Université Evangelique du Cameroun (Cameroon). International researchers got the opportunity to present their papers and thoughts on the theme of Education for Globalization
• 14-15/5/2018: Participation in the international conference on "Quality education for sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa specifically in DRC". The conference was held in ULPGL-Goma. I worked as a facilitator in the workshop which dealt with high cognitive activation through complex tasks
• 26/July/2018: Participation in the symposium on Educational Quality in Developing Countries held at Bamberg University, Germany. I presented the results of my research on the implementation of high cognitive activation in Rwandese secondary schools.

Training and certificates

·       April 2013: Certificate in Participative Management upon the completion of training organized by the coordination of Protestant Education (BNEP) since 2008

·       July 2017: Certificate in School Leadership awarded by the University of Bamberg, Germany

5.    Projects

15/07/2024 – Current: Contribution à l’approche par compétence par la contextualisation et activation cognitive par les tâches complexes en 19 EPR écoles primaires

Contribution to the design, implementation, and follow-up of the aforementioned project. The project intends to enhance the quality of teaching in 19 primary schools of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. The project is being jointly run by the Church and the Protestant University of Rwanda under the funding of Departement Missionnaire (DM)

2020-2022: Implementation of Rara Heza Project in collaboration with Junge Menschen fur Afrika and Engineers without Borders from the University of Vienna

Contribution to the funds mobilization and execution of Rara Heza project, which consisted of the construction of a modern, comfortable story-building dormitory for female students at IPK-Kirinda in Karongi

Since 2019: Contribution to the inception of Rara Heza Project in collaboration with Junge Menschen für Afrika and Engineers without Borders from the University of Vienna.

25/January/2017: Organizing and carrying out a project of teachers' training on "High cognitive activation by complex tasks". The training brought together teachers from two secondary schools.

 

6.    Specific skills

Language skills

Languages/Skills	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
English	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user
French	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user
Swahili	Basic	Basic	Basic	Basic
Kinyarwanda	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user

Microsoft office

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Powerpoint

Organisational and leadership skills

I have leadership skills which I developed from training and from my professionality (Different leadership and administrative responsibilities I held, including being the school principal, Dean of the faculty, Master program leader,..). In this regard, I am able to mobilize staff members around the vision and the mission of the group. Furthermore, I can organize myself since I have always been working in a multi-task context, coupled with my studies. All this working situation requires high levels of self-regulation and self-discipline.

Communication and interpersonal skills

I have proven communication skills gained through my experience as, on one hand, secondary school teacher, university lecturer, secondary school headmaster and, on the other hand, moderator of ceremonies in a number of official events happening in my home country including one which took place in 2016 bringing together some 40.000 people to meet His Excellence the President of Republic.