FINAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
From Project Outputs to Lasting Institutional Impact
Thursday, 3 September 2026 | Rwanda Polytechnic - Kigali College
Introduction
The GREATER Final Conference and Exhibition will bring together project partners, public institutions, the private sector, students, communities, schools and international stakeholders to reflect on GREATER's achievements and their contribution to Rwanda's energy transition. The event will focus on project impact, lessons learned and on how the capacities, tools, partnerships and approaches developed through GREATER can be sustained and further developed beyond the end of the project.
Programme
Join us for an inspiring GREATER kickout conference programme designed to connect, engage, and set the stage for an impactful event.
08.30 - 09.00
Arrival of guests and registration
Rwanda Polytechnic
OPENING SESSION: INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP, NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND LASTING IMPACT
Chairs: Arne Graßmann (HN)
09.00 - 09.10
Opening and welcome remarks
Dr Sylvie MUCYO (RP) Vice Chancellor
09.10 - 09.25
GREATER in brief: achievements, impact and legacy
Prof. Paolo Ciampolini (UNIPR)
GREATER Coordinator
09.25 - 09.35
EU Capacity Building projects: objectives, cooperation and legacy
Anna Hakami, Project Adviser,
European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
09.35 - 09.45
Rwanda’s higher-education priorities
Eng Pascal Gatabazi (Ministry of Education) CTA
09.45 - 09.55
Energy-sector development, access and skills needs: public and private perspectives
Jean Bosco Mugiraneza (MININFRA) DG for Energy
09.55 - 10.30
Institutional addresses.
Dott Giovanni Davite, Honorary Consul of Italy
Dr Fr Fabien Hagenimana, Senior Expert in Rwandan European Cooperation
Prof Paolo Martelli, Rector UNIPR
Prof Roberto Valentino, Director of UNIPR Centre for International Cooperation
Dr Fr Jean Bosco Baribeshya, VC, INES
Dr Arne Graßmann, HN
Dr Edmondo Gilioli, CNR
Dr Fr Gibert Munana, VC, UTAB
Dr Fabien Tenk, H-BRS
Prof Leopold Mbereyaho, Ag Principal UR
10.30 - 10.50: COFFEE BREAK
PANEL SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY TRANSITION - THE ROLE OF ACADEMIA AND CAPACITY- BUILDING INITIATIVES
Chairs: Luciana Stortoni (UNIPR), Djamali Nambajimana (UR)
10:50–11:00
Introduction and framing: Rwanda's climate and energy challenges – priorities, actors and capacity needs
Moderator: Sebastian Heinen, H-BRS
11:00–11:10
Rwanda’s energy-transition priorities: implementation, energy-system development and decarbonisation
Jean Bosco Mugiraneza (MINIFRA) DG for Energy,
11:10–11:20
Private-sector outlook: renewable energy, market development and workforce needs
Janvier Kabananiye (REG) Director of R&D
11.20–11.30
Private-sector outlook: renewable energy, market development and workforce needs
Ehudi Shingiro (EPD) Head of Clean Cooking Subsector
11.30–11.40
The role of HEIs in developing the skills required for the energy transition
Dr Bernard Munyazikwiye (UR) Head of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering
11.40–12.10
Panel discussion - Building the skills required for Rwanda’s energy transition: workforce development, employability, applied learning and cooperation among HEIs, public institutions and the private sector.
All panelists
12.10–12.20
Audience Q&A
Moderator / All panelists
12.20–12.25
Key conclusions
Moderator
12.25 - 12.30: Group Photo
12.30 - 13.30: NETWORKING LUNCH
During the lunch, the announcement of GREATER Art Contest winners and the award ceremony will be held.
EXPERIENCES AND TESTIMONIES: FROM PROJECT ACTIVITIES TO LASTING IMPACT
Chairs: Eraste Rukundo (INES), Pia Lovengreen (UNIPR)
13.30 - 13.50
Ensuring distributed electrification reaches its full potential
Prof. Peter Adelmann Director of Institute for Decentralized Electrification, Education and Entrepreneurship, Germany
13.50–14.05
User-Centred and Collaborative Design for Educational Innovation: from stakeholder needs to co-designed solutions
Lisa Schmitt (HN)
14.05-14.25
Student experiences: mobility, thesis and project work, and engagement in Living Labs and DIY Lab Kits
Joselyne Byukusenge, INES
Jean Paul Dusingizimana, INES
Anselme Mulinda, UTAB
Jean de Dieux Ndagijimana, UR
14.25 - 14.50
Academic staff experiences: training and summer schools; design and development of Living Labs and DIY Lab Kits
Mirco Mongilli, UNIPR
Vivien Ishimwe, RP
Dr Theodore Habimana, INES
Bosco Hategekimana, RP
14.50 - 15.10
Community and school engagement: knowledge transfer, cooperation and partnerships beyond GREATER
Samuel Ndayambaje, UR
Fr Regis Bagerageza, INES
Fr Principe Niyitanga, GS Byumba, UTAB
Larissa Ashimwe, Rulindo district, RP
Olivier Nyundo, APEKI
Theophile Rutabana, Nelson Mandela
10.30 - 10.50: COFFEE BREAK
CLOSING ROUND TABLE: GREATER BEYOND THE PROJECT - WHAT'S NEXT?
Chairs: Pia Lovengreen (UNIPR), Sebastian Heinen (H-BRS)
15.30 - 15.35
Introduction: from project results to institutional legacy
Moderator: Dr. Luciana Stortoni (UNIPR)
15.35 - 15.45
Institutional transformation: strengthened capacities, emerging institutional changes and practices becoming embedded
Eraste Rukundo INES
15.45 - 15.55
Community engagement: strengthening partnerships with communities and schools beyond GREATER
Dr Bernard Munyazikwiye, University of Rwanda
15.55 - 16.05
Students, skills, and employability: developing talent and responding to workforce needs
Dr Emmanuel Nisingizwe, UTAB
16.05 - 16.15
Sustainability and future cooperation: maintaining GREATER results and expanding collaboration
Dr Antoine Musengimana, Rwanda Polytechnic
16.15 - 16.45
Round-table discussion: from GREATER results to lasting institutional practice
All round-table participants
16.45 - 16.55
Final reflections: GREATER’s legacy and the way forward
Eng. Rita Clemence Mutabazi and Prof Paolo Ciampolini, RP and UNIPR
16.55 - 17.00: Formal Closing
GREATER EXHIBITION
The GREATER Exhibition will remain open throughout the day, offering participants the opportunity to explore the project’s main practical
outputs and engage directly with the staff and students involved in their development and use.
The exhibition will showcase Living Labs, DIY Lab Kits and other GREATER results, illustrating how these tools and approaches support
teaching, student projects, applied research, technical training and engagement with communities and schools.
The Living Labs established in Rwanda demonstrate renewable-energy applications in real-life settings and provide practical infrastructures
for education, experimentation and outreach. The DIY Lab Kits complement these facilities by offering affordable and reproducible platforms for hands-on learning in areas such as photovoltaics, sensing, communication and energy monitoring, creating a pathway from classroom experimentation to full-scale systems operating under real conditions.
Overall, the exhibition will provide a tangible overview of how GREATER has translated capacity building into practical learning tools, infrastructures and institutional resources that can continue to support education, training, research and outreach beyond the lifetime of the
project. It will also host the GREATER Art Contest exhibition, with the winning entries announced during the networking lunch.
