Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation - GEI Study Abroad in Rwanda

A 16-credit certificate program to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

Certificate in Global Engagement Program
Disciplinary Track: Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation
Study Abroad Destination: Rwanda
Fall Semester Dates: Sep 1-Dec 13, 2025 (15 weeks)
Spring Semester Dates: Feb 2-May 16, 2026 (15 weeks)
Fall Semester Dates: Aug 31-Dec 12, 2026 (15 weeks)
Credit: 16 U.S. credit hours (~ 32 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
Eligibility: Any field and level of study

Rwanda has emerged as one of Africa’s most promising hubs for entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive development. In this 15-week semester program, students explore how business can be a force for good - working alongside local changemakers, startups, and community-based organizations to tackle real-world challenges.

Based in Kigali, a fast-evolving city known for policy innovation and digital transformation, students gain an interdisciplinary foundation in entrepreneurship and social innovation while developing practical skills through field experiences and a supervised practicum. The program combines academic rigor with immersive learning, cultural engagement, and reflective practice to equip students for global leadership in impact-driven careers.

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This seminar introduces global and local frameworks for entrepreneurship and innovation, emphasizing social impact, equity, and systems thinking. Students explore design thinking, stakeholder mapping, and inclusive business strategies through case studies, collaborative projects, and critical reflection.

This course develops functional language skills for daily life and professional engagement in Rwanda. Instruction covers conversation, reading, and basic writing, with a focus on vocabulary for community interaction and entrepreneurial settings. Evaluation includes homework, a written test, and an oral proficiency exam.

Students participate in guided field experiences with Rwandan enterprises, NGOs, or innovation hubs. Through site visits, interviews, and inquiry-based assignments, students analyze how local leaders address challenges like access, sustainability, and scale. Learning is documented through reflective journals and a field report.

In this project-based course, students work in teams with a Rwandan host organization to co-create and implement a business innovation or social enterprise initiative. The practicum culminates in a professional presentation and personal reflective essay, highlighting applied skills and impact.

As capstone project, students create a digital portfolio that serves as a comprehensive record of the students’ achievements and learning throughout the program. Students gather artifacts from their coursework and field experiences to showcase their development and mastery of skills. The portfolio culminates in a reflective essay and a presentation, promoting self-assessment and continuous learning.

There are no specific prerequisites or requirements. Students can be enrolled in any major or minor and can be at any level of university study. While we try to always place students in cohorts with similar levels of study, please understand that this may not always be possible.

Our programs are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The semester pace is rigorous and fast-moving, particularly during immersive fieldwork. The U.S. grading scale of A to F is used. Students complete a variety of assignments, including six thematic group assignments, regular reflective journaling or blogging, and a final analytical project paper focused on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives (BUS311); participation in a field placement, weekly reflection entries, and submission of a field report analyzing sustainability issues and interventions (BUS312); collaboration on a capstone practicum project, delivery of a professional presentation, and submission of a personal reflective essay (BUS313); and active engagement in intensive Kinyarwanda language instruction, with accompanying homework, a final written exam, and an oral proficiency assessment (LAN302). A digital portfolio is developed throughout the semester, culminating in a final presentation and capstone reflection that integrates academic, experiential, and professional growth.

16 U.S. credit hours (~ 32 ETCS credits) for eligible undergraduate students via our U.S. academic school of record. After successful completion of the program, you will receive a comprehensive GEI transcript as well as the GEI Certificate in Global Engagement. Please check with your academic advisor at your home institution to confirm how many credits can be accepted for your degree program.

The language of instruction is English.

One of today’s greatest development success stories, Rwanda is Africa’s prime study abroad jewel. The country underwent a breathtaking transformation since the 1994 genocide. A model for poverty reduction and economic growth, it accounts for the highest percentage of women in parliament anywhere in the world. And the streets of its modern green capital Kigali are clean, safe, and free of corruption.

Innovation in a rising African nation

Kigali offers an extraordinary platform for understanding how innovation intersects with development. From tech incubators and women-led cooperatives to impact investing and policy innovation, students engage directly with a vibrant ecosystem of change.

Fieldwork with purpose

Students build relationships with Rwandan entrepreneurs, grassroots leaders, and development professionals through structured fieldwork. These encounters provide insight into Rwanda’s unique approach to transformation and sustainability - from urban innovation corridors to rural enterprise networks.

Language and cultural immersion

Intensive Kinyarwanda instruction equips students with practical skills to navigate daily life and build authentic relationships. Cultural engagement includes cooking classes, storytelling, genocide memorial visits, dance workshops, and deep community dialogue.

Professional and ethical growth

Weekly colloquiums and mentorship help students reflect on their learning journey, interrogate ethical dilemmas, and develop a global changemaker mindset. Through digital portfolios, students document their progress in leadership, collaboration, and social innovation.

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The program includes 15 weeks in Rwanda. For this time, GEI Rwanda offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:

Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities

Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

Fall 2025 (15 weeks): Sep 1-Dec 13
Spring 2026 (15 weeks): Feb 2-May 16
Fall 2026 (15 weeks): Aug 31-Dec 12

Fall 2025: July 1
Spring 2026: Dec 1
Fall 2026: July 1

Fall 2025: US $17,450
Spring 2026: US $17,450
Fall 2026: US $17,450

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

Included in your program fees

Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure advising
Optional onsite airport meet & greet
Orientation
Full-time local coordination and 24/7 onsite emergency support
Course-related activities and excursions, including transportation, selected meals, and guiding, during the Global Field Engagement Course and the Global Practicum
Optional events and cultural activities
Health insurance

Not included in your program fees

Transportation to/from the program location airport (including international airfare and taxes)
Visas
Immunizations
Housing beyond the 10 main onsite program weeks ($300/week extra)
Meals other than those included during the Global Field Engagement Course or the Global Practicum
General items and services of a personal nature
Medical expenses not covered by the health insurance provided
Other discretionary expenses

RWANDA

STAFF

All of our staff are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SOCIAL INNOVATION (RWANDA)

GEI CERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

AT A GLANCE

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ACADEMICS

YOUR DESTINATION: RWANDA

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

HOUSING & MEALS

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Included in your program fees

Not included in your program fees

STAFF

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SOCIAL INNOVATION (RWANDA)

GEI CERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

AT A GLANCE

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ACADEMICS

YOUR DESTINATION: RWANDA

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

HOUSING & MEALS

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Included in your program fees

Not included in your program fees

STAFF

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

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