SUMMER INTERN ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL ENGINEERING (RWANDA)

Global Practicum

A 4-credit global practicum to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Practicum Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Engineering
  • Study Abroad Destination: Rwanda
  • 2026 Dates: June 27-July 24 (4 weeks)
  • Credit: 4 U.S. credit hours (~ 8 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Engineer sustainable solutions in Rwanda
This 4-week, 4-credit Global Practicum immerses students in Rwanda’s pioneering engineering and development environment. Participants work alongside Rwandan engineers, entrepreneurs, and community groups to design, implement, and evaluate real-world engineering initiatives - from clean water systems to resilient infrastructure and renewable energy installations.

The program emphasizes ethical practice, sustainability, and intercultural collaboration. Students refine technical skills and develop global leadership competencies through hands-on work and guided mentorship.
Program Highlights
  • Engineering placements with local partner organizations
  • Interdisciplinary work on critical development issues
  • Weekly professional mentorship and peer reflection
  • Digital portfolio showcasing project contributions and learning
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Engineering Practicum is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning four weeks in a host country in Africa or Asia. Students immerse themselves in practical engineering work, collaborating with local engineers, entrepreneurs, and community partners to tackle pressing infrastructure, energy, and healthcare challenges.

Through group placements with host organizations, students apply technical knowledge to real-world problems, using human-centered design principles to develop sustainable, impact-driven engineering solutions.

The program follows a structured experiential learning model, combining fieldwork, technical problem-solving, and design implementation. Each week, students participate in class colloquia, reflection sessions, and cultural engagement activities, fostering a deeper understanding of engineering’s role in global development.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the practicum, students will:
  • Collaborate with local partners to design and implement engineering solutions
  • Apply sustainable and human-centered engineering practices in the field
  • Communicate effectively in multicultural, project-focused environments
  • Reflect on ethical, cultural, and environmental dimensions of engineering
  • Present a professional-grade digital portfolio documenting technical and personal growth
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: RWANDA

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.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Embedded engineering projects

Students engage directly with local engineering firms, NGOs, or community-led initiatives, applying technical solutions to water systems, energy access, or public infrastructure.

Mentorship and local networking
Daily guidance from Rwandan mentors, along with weekly colloquia, supports technical growth and intercultural communication while building professional networks within Rwanda’s engineering ecosystem.
Daily life & local engagement
Living in Kigali and surrounding communities immerses students in local culture - from exploring neighborhood markets to sharing traditional meals - integrating daily life with professional engagement.

Optional cultural excursions
Students can opt into weekend visits to sites such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, rural innovation hubs, or Rwanda’s national parks, offering context to their engineering work and connecting them to community through cultural and environmental exploration.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 4 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.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (4 weeks): June 27-July 24

Summer 2026: April 1

Summer 2026: US $3,950 (4 weeks)

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.

RWANDA

STAFF

All of our staff are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Yvan Rubengebenge
Center Director
Francoise Uzamukunda, MA
Academic Coordinator
Denyse Iradukunda, BA
Program & Student Services Coordinator
Rachel Irakoze, BA
Program & Student Services Coordinator
Espoir Baraka, BA
Student Life Coordinator
Janvier Muhire, MSc
Student Life Coordinator
Kelly Uwase
Student Life Coordinator

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