05th April 2023
iSQI Group recently concluded its official visit to Rwanda as part of the Beaming Knowledge in Africa initiative tour. During the visit, iSQI’s team officially presented accreditation certificates to Kepler and Digital Business Institute. The high-level delegation which included Stephan Goericke (iSQI Group CEO), Ronald Huster (iSQI Group COO), and Werner Henschelchen (Representative of ISTQB) had the privilege to mark this significant milestone as Kepler and Digital Business Institute joined AIMS Rwanda as the only ISTQB accredited training institutions in Rwanda.
Photo: L-R – Celestin Nkeramihigo [Kepler Ass. Director Program Innovations] Stephan Goericke [iSQI Group CEO], Werner Henschelchen [ISTQB Representative], Nathalie Munyampenda [Kepler CEO]) Photo Credit: iSQI GmbH
Kepler is a nonprofit university program that provides accessible and affordable higher education to students in East Africa. The program offers a range of undergraduate degree programs in fields such as business, computer science, and health sciences. Kepler seeks to equip their students with skills such as the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level innovative as an approach to creating pathways to employment for their graduates.
Photo: L-R – Samuel Ndekezi [iSQI Rwanda Rep], Werner Henschelchen [ISTQB Representative], Alex Ntale [ICT Chamber CEO], Stephan Goericke [iSQI Group CEO], Chris Dushime [DBI Program Lead] Photo Credit: iSQI GmbH
Digital Business Institute, on the other hand, is the capacity-building arm of the Rwanda ICT Chamber. The institute is committed to providing high-quality professional certification training to bridge the skills and knowledge gap in Rwanda to international standards.
The accreditation certificates presented to Kepler and Digital Business Institute are a testament to the institution’s commitment to providing high-quality education that meets international standards as training providers. The process involved rigorous evaluation by independent experts, who assess various aspects of the institution, including the quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities, and student support services.
Photo: Group photo of the Rwanda Software Testing Qualifications Board Photo Credit: iSQI GmbH
During the delegate’s visit, the Rwanda Software Testing Qualifications Board (RWSTQB) was officially launched at a glamorous event held at the Kigali Convention Center on March 22, 2023. The event was attended by industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from across Rwanda’s technology sector. The RWSTQB was created to promote and regulate software testing standards in Rwanda. The board is tasked with developing and implementing a certification program that will ensure software testing professionals have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties effectively.
Photo: Robert Ford [President of RWSTQB] Photo Credit: iSQI GmbH
At the launch event, the RWSTQB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Software Quality Institute (iSQI). The MOU establishes a partnership between the two organizations and will enable RWSTQB to offer internationally recognized certification programs to software testing professionals in Rwanda.
Speaking at the launch event, the President of RWSTQB, Mr. Robert Ford, expressed his excitement about the board’s launch and the partnership with iSQI. He noted that these certification programs will go a long way in improving the quality of software testing in Rwanda and enhancing the country’s competitiveness in the global technology market.
Photo: Werner Henschelchen [ISTQB Representative] Photo Credit: iSQI GmbH
The event also featured keynote speeches from industry leaders, including the Representative of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), Mr. Werner Henschelchen, and the CEO of iSQI, Mr. Stephan Goericke. Both speakers commended the establishment of RWSTQB and its partnership with iSQI, noting that setting up a board is a big step in the right direction for the tech industry in Rwanda as it is expected to attract more tech companies to the country, provide a platform for local tech talent to thrive, and play a vital role in supporting the country’s efforts to become a technology hub in the region.
About iSQI:
The International Software Quality Institute (“iSQI”) is a leading global exam provider and accredited certification body with headquarters in Germany and subsidiary companies in the UK, the Netherlands and the US. Focusing on IT professions, iSQI certifies the know-how of professionals in over 110 countries on 6 continents in 10 languages, delivering more than 30,000 examinations annually.
About Beaming Knowledge in Africa:
Beaming Knowledge in Africa is a develoPPP.de project of iSQI GmbH co-financed by DEG from the public funds of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany, launched to create an opportunity for Africans to get the right professional certifications in order to compete globally.