ICK Celebrates Record-Breaking Graduation Milestone
On Friday, December 13, 2024, the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK) celebrated its 14th graduation ceremony, awarding degrees to 1,137 students.
This milestone marked the largest graduating class in the university’s 22-year history, a testament to ICK’s continuous growth and excellence in higher education.
Speaking to ICK News, Bishop Balthazar Ntivuguruzwa, the Bishop of Kabgayi and ICK’s Chancellor, highlighted the significance of this achievement. “This is a historic moment. Never before have we had such a large number of graduates, even when combining multiple academic years,” he said.
The record-breaking numbers reflect ICK’s growing reputation, with its student population now exceeding 4,000 compared to previous years when enrollment was capped at 1,300.
Bishop Ntivuguruzwa attributed this growth to the expansion of academic programs, including the recent introduction of the School of Health Sciences in 2023-2024, which offers Nursing and Midwifery programs. “This is a significant accomplishment and a reason to celebrate,” he added.
Inspiring words to graduates
In his message to the graduates, Bishop Ntivuguruzwa encouraged them to embrace three core principles for a successful life: conscience, collaboration, and faith.
Conscience: “Listen to your inner voice,” he advised. “Always strive for excellence, improve upon your achievements, and pursue what is good.”
Collaboration: “Teamwork is crucial,” he emphasized. “When individuals combine their efforts and resources, even the smallest contributions can yield significant outcomes.”
Faith: “As believers, ensure that God is at the center of all your endeavors,” he concluded.
Looking ahead to the Silver Jubilee
ICK is gearing up for its 25th-anniversary celebrations in the upcoming three years. Bishop Ntivuguruzwa called on the university leadership to start planning events that will mark the jubilee. “Let’s prepare not just to celebrate what we’ve achieved but to initiate new milestones,” he urged.
He challenged stakeholders-educators, parents, partners, and alumni-to contribute ideas that will define the Jubilee’s legacy. https://ickjournalism.com/ick-22-years-of-excellence/
Acknowledging contributions
Bishop Ntivuguruzwa expressed gratitude to all who contribute to ICK’s success, including government bodies, educators, parents, and students.
He specifically thanked Rwanda’s Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health for their support in establishing and funding the School of Health Sciences.
Future prospects
ICK plans to broaden its academic offerings further by introducing new programs in educational sciences and a Master’s degree in Education.
These proposals are currently under review by the Higher Education Council (HEC). “This is just the beginning. We envision more Master’s programs in other fields in the future,” Bishop Ntivuguruzwa revealed.
Out of the 1,137 graduates, 997 were from the Faculty of Education, 25 from Journalism and Communication Studies, 64 from Social, Economic Sciences and Business Management, and 51 from Sciences of Development.
These graduates join a growing network of ICK alumni, now totaling 6,026 since its inception, including 4,886 already contributing to the workforce.
