On August 26, 2025, three students from the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK) departed for the Netherlands to pursue further studies at Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences (CHE) through a long-standing academic partnership between the two institutions.
The students, who are pursuing Journalism, boarded their flight at Kigali International Airport on Tuesday evening. They are Christella Umutoniwase, Elie Ntihinduka, and Kevine Ishimwe, and will spend approximately six months in the European country.
Before boarding, the students shared their excitement and expectations with ICK News, highlighting what the opportunity means for their academic journey.
Historical tours of Kabgayi
Ntihinduka said:
“I am very happy, confident, and proud to have been entrusted by the university with such an opportunity to go abroad and gain valuable experience.”
Kevine echoed similar sentiments, expressing her joy at continuing her studies in the Netherlands while also thanking ICK for selecting her among the three students to benefit from the exchange.
They emphasized that studying abroad is an opportunity they do not intend to waste, promising to make the most of it.
As a Journalism student, Ishimwe highlighted how beneficial this exchange will be to her professional development:
“There, we will gain a lot, including improving our communication skills, which are very crucial in journalism.”
She further noted:
“We will also learn about lifestyles in other countries—how they study, how they work—which is important knowledge for life.”
In addition to classroom learning, Ntihinduka said he looks forward to observing the journalism landscape in the Netherlands:
“I want to learn about the professional lives of journalists there, how they are trained, and how they are prepared to become professionals.”
The students also mentioned that they were not worried about adapting to life in the Netherlands, as they had received guidance and advice from former ICK students who previously studied at CHE.
A Partnership Since 2018
The collaboration between ICK and CHE began in 2018, enabling ICK students to study in the Netherlands for over five months while faculty members from both universities exchange teaching responsibilities.
Since the partnership started, ICK has sent 14 students, including the three who traveled this week, while six CHE lecturers have taught short courses to Journalism and Communication students at ICK. In return, three ICK lecturers have also conducted short-term teaching assignments at CHE.
Christella Umutoniwase (Left), Elie Ntihinduka (Center), Kevine Ishimwe (Right)
The departing students were accompanied to the airport by some classmates, members of AGE ICK (the student guild), and the university’s Student Affairs Officer.
Source: ICK news
