Figure 6: Skills Development Projects SD Project 1: ICT Professional Training and Certification Programs Purpose: To continuously develop a competent and relevant ICT professional base that meets international and industry needs in order to accelerate Rwanda’s ICT development Description: Rwanda has a dearth of skills needed to drive ICT development. The private sector identified the lack of adequate ICT skills and the cost of professional ICT training/certification as key challenges. Graduating students for the most part do not have hands-on training that meets industry needs thus requiring significant financial resources to train them. Given that the private sector is young and has limited capital, it is imperative that government provides the necessary support to enable the ICT sector acquire relevant skills. Therefore, in order to fast track Rwanda’s ICT development and transformation into a knowledge-based economy, there must be programs designed to train ICT personnel and campaigns to attract more Rwandans in the field of ICT, particularly Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions. Institutions of higher learning such as TVET and Universities as well as the private sector can collaborate to ensure the development of industry specific skills. This project aims to increase home grown ICT expertise that meets national, regional, and global ICT needs. Activities: 1. Conduct ICT skills assessment 2. Incorporate ICT Professional certification courses in the teaching curriculum for institutions of higher learning 3. Develop an ICT training programme to subsidize specialized training for Rwandan ICT professionals 4. Enforce public servant ICT certification Page 28 of 85   © No part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without the permission of Rwanda Ministry in charge of ICT in the Office of the President.