TCT –ET Department Held its Stakeholders and TAG meeting 2009-2010

L-R Mr. Atsushi TAKAHASHI JICA Training planning/Project Management, Eng. Pascal GATABAZI TCT Principal

The Principal of TCT Eng. Pascal GATABAZI was the first Speaker in the Workshop. In his address, he explained that TCT has a Vision to become a Technical Education center of excellence and world class. For this reason TCT with the support of JICA, has put effort in the assembling of World class educational equipments, and has employed a system which involves Staff Capacity building through Dispatch of JICA experts, Overseas training of some staff, cooperation with advanced institutions of similar orientation (EEPIS – Indonesia), it also involves Curricula development and upgrade through Collaboration with Industries, it also involves other components like students career support, and Income generation activities and joint research and developments with industries and other institutions.

The principal also explained that TCT has currently achieved some successes in its life. It has enrolled about 468 students out of which 137 are currently in industrial attachment, and there have been a lot of good report about their performance. Other achievements include development of her own software like TCT Assessment and Evaluation System, TCT library System, and TCT Course Management System, Technologies like TCT Intercom System, and TCT campus wide wireless Internet access.
According to him, TCT has Challenges, which included Staff drifts or Weakness in Capacities and lack of strong industrial base.

The second speaker at the workshop was The TCT-JICA Training Planning/Project Manager Mr. TAKAHASHI Atsushi. In his presentation titled ‘The Project for Strengthening the Capacity of Tumba College of Technology’ he mentioned a number of inputs and project activities which JICA has made in TCT up to August 2009. He explained that those inputs and activities which included dispatch of Japanese experts dispatch of Indonesian experts, TCT teachers training in Indonesia, approximately 90 million Rwanda Franc Equipment procurement for ET Department, and the sponsoring of Electronic Engineering workshop 2009 in Rwanda were funded from the Japan Official development Assistance (ODA).

Other speakers in the workshop included JICA Expert and former Fujitsu Engineer, Eng. Nakajima Kenji Speaking on the topic, ‘Technology Trend of World Communications’ He pointed out that Telecommunications and Data communications field is converging towards new technologies which presents more emphasis on Fiber optic technology for transmission and distribution of Network Signal. He mentioned about three undersea backbones which may lead to terrestrial landing in Rwanda including East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy), South African – East African – South Asia (SEACOM) fiber optic cable, and possibly The East African Marine System (TEAMS)

Emile Abayisenga one of the IT teachers who benefitted from JICA training in Japan spoke about his experience of modern trends in Technologies in Japan. He explained that in Japan a number of new Network Access layer technologies using fiber optics typically classified as GE-PON, B-PON E-PON, etc and others like Hikari makes it possible for people to control household equipment from remote locations using their mobile phones.
Another speaker Mr. Sylas Niyitegeka, Officer in Charge of Relations with Industries (ORI) spoke on Industrial Attachment System and about ORI office. He announced that TCT is going to host a Career day in which industries are expected to attend, and get the opportunities to have face to face meetings with students. He explained that industries and students stand to gain some benefits for attending the career day.
Speakers like Mr. Furaha from ORINFOR and Mr. Innocent Mutimura from New Artel confirmed in their speeches that the TCT students in Industrial Attachment are doing very well in the industries.
Mr. Mohamed, Power expert from a New Telecomm Carrier in Rwanda, who led one of the discussion groups, mentioned that in teaching Electronics Equipment Repairs and Assembly (RA), emphasis of the contents must be made on the Operations, Circuitry, and Applications of basic electronic components like resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, transistors and thyristors.
The workshop closed on the remark by Mr. Mutimura of New Artel, in which he praised the performance of TCT students who are under his supervision, saying that they have helped them to finish some long queues of tasks that have been pending for some time.

The organization of the workshop was commendable. At the end of the workshop participants were hosted to a lunch at the LAICO UMUBANO hotel’s restaurant. Some comments by participants gave credit to Eng. Jean Pierre M. The TCT ET Head of Department and The workshop Coordinator Mr. JMV for the success of the workshop.