Student Unions
SURTUC NEWS LETTER ARTICLE THE RISE AND GROWTH OF THE STUDENTS UNION OF RTUC (SURTUC)
For every organized group of people sharing common ambitions there must be a systematic leadership set-up if it is to be a successful achiever. In a universal consideration, sampling a case choice of the government of the Republic of Rwanda, we witness that it has opted for a decentralized system of government so as to involve all the members of its society to develop a strong sense of responsibility and be voluntary partakers in their own socio-economic development, security-uphold and electing their leadership democratically, based on its political and patriotic will.
Rwanda Tourism University College happens to be a subset of this wide universal decentralized leadership network. It is at the bottom of its decentralized hierarchy leadership pyramid that you find the Students Union; abbreviated as SURTUC (Students Union- Rwanda Tourism University College).
SURTUC, like in any other university or higher institutes of learning in Rwanda and elsewhere, was initiated way back in 2008 shortly after the commencement of RTUC. The pioneering SURTUC team then headed by Mr. MUNYANEZA Gustave as Guild President and Mr. MUKWAYA Robert as Vice Guild President had a team of up to 19 committee members, an arbitration committee of 3 members and a Students Representative Board(SRB) whose members were all the Class representatives but led by a team of three.
This committee, within the pioneering huddles, managed to lay some foundation for SURTUC by setting up a constitution by which it would operate and carry out various responsibilities regarding students’ issues.
Election of the new 2010/11 SURTUC Committee It was on the 24th May 2010 that the second SURTUC team was elected by the RTUC students represented by an electorate team comprised of 12 students per class from all faculties of both sessions; evening and day.
During this election the following team was elected:
EXECUITIVE COMMITTEE The above can be contacted in regard to their respective responsibilities using the contact addresses provided against their names Gender ratio: 15 Male = 68.2%: 07 female = 31.8% = 2:1 respectively To make the team complete, in collaboration with the arbitration committee the new SURTUC leadership carried out elections of the Students’ Representative Board elected by the Class Representatives from all the faculties. These include the Chairman; Mr. GAKIMBIRI Robert, the vice chairman; Mr. GATSINZI Laurent and the secretary; MUPFASONI Mediatrice This committee was officially sworn-in on the 17th October 2010 in a colorful ceremony held at RTUC Kigali Campus, organized by its self in collaboration with a private cooperative comprised of a group of RTUC- TTM 3rd year evening students called PEMSCO (Professional Events Management and Services Cooperative) and this ceremony was covered and broadcasted by the national media; ORINFOR. The guest honor was Hon. Deputy in the National Parliament; Mr. SAFARI (seen in the above photo) and various invited guests including the Executive Secretaries of Kicukiro and Niboye sectors and various guild presidents from universities of Rwanda such as NUR, ISAE, KIST, KIE, KCT, INES, UAAC, ULK, INLAK and SFB witnessed this ceremony to confirm and strengthen the relationship so far built The administration staff of RTUC was also present represented by the Rector, The marketing Director, the Registrar, the DAF, the Dean of students, Human Resource Director, the Public relations officer, among others. A minimum number of SURTUC members attended the ceremony.
After the ceremony the invited guests and the students present had a cocktail meal at the University Restaurant. Various speeches were given to the present audience by The Guest of honor, the Rector, The Dean of students, the out-going Guild president representative and the In-coming Guild president.
Certificates of merit were given to the out-going committee.
Despite the delayed swearing-in ceremony of the new committee due to unavoidable circumstances, it had to commence execution of its responsibilities on the onset by having many internal meetings to discuss and forward various issues regarding students, attending various external meetings and functions upon invitation, organizing students to participate in various social and national activities such as observing the 1994 Tutsi genocide memorial week, presidential elections campaigns and elections, attending public talks, attending various competitions for instance on the 9th October 2010 RTUC student, Karangwa Deogene attended the 1st Sm@nessn competition organized by NUR Sm@ness Group jointly with Radio Salus Quiz of NUR and RTUC emerged 2nd winner of the 4 involved Universities, cleaning the genocide memorial site of Nyanza- Kicukiro as done on the 2nd November 2010 among many others.
SURTUC members’ financial contribution to its treasury For purposes of efficient functioning the new SURTUC committee in collaboration with the RTUC administration implemented the collection of the students’ financial contribution of frw4000 as had been suggested by the predecessor team. However, making students comprehend the reason for and benefit from paying this fund became a challenging task since it was the first time to pay it and it having been demanded in the middle of the academic year but at the same time seemed not to understand the importance of a students’ union and the fact that they are the members and that not only the committee comprise it but the entire students’ body of RTUC. National and International integration of SURTUC The new committee has also managed to register the SURTUC and subscribe for its membership with various forums such as FAGER (Federation of the student Unions of Rwanda), EACSU (East African Community Students Union) and FERWACSU (Federation Rwandaise pour le Sport et la Culture Universitaires). Legal formalities of SURTUC SURTUC has a constitution but some of whose articles will soon be amended in consultation of all the stakeholders, partners and counterparts from our sister Universities and Higher Learning Institutes which have long been established. SURTUC has designed a logo for the association and all members were given a chance to contribute to its composition.
SURTUC office The SURTUC still needs to have an equipped independent office facility however due to the shortage of space the administration of RTUC has provided it with some space in the Career Advisory Center office and a computer jointly used and belonging to SCUR. However, this among others is what the students’ contribution fee is all about solving and indeed it will if students pay.
Some short-term plans of SURTUC SURTUC in perfect collaboration with the RTUC administration and all the students clubs will work together to carry out various social activities and initiate productive projects in RTUC using SURTUC members’ contribution fund and possible external support for purposes of self financial sustainability and students benefits from cheap services. By AHIMBISIBWE Ignatius SURTUC Guild President
ELECTED SURTUC GOVERNMENT 2010/11
Elected on 25/04/2010
PRESIDENT: AHIMBISIBWE Ignatius, TTM Evening 3rd year student Tel: 0788769387 E-mail:
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VICE PRESIDENT: UWANTEGE Jacqueline, HRM Morning 3rd year student, Tel: 0785509050
SECRETARY: NSENGIMANA Philos Fidel, HRM Evening 2nd year student, Tel: 0788874095, E-mail: nsengafidè
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TREASURER: UWERA Patricia Agnes, HRM Evening 3rd year student, Tel: 0788549346, E-mail:
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MINISTERS
MINISTERS OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
MUNYANEZA Eugene, HRM Morning 2nd year student, Tel: 0785000059, E-mail:
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HATEGEKIMANA Charles, BBIT Evening 2nd year student, Tel: 0788595970, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF PRODUCTION AND PLANIFICATION
AFRICA Jean Charles, HRM Evening3rd year student, Tel: 0788503200, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
NTABANA Edward TTM Evening 3rd year student, Tel: 0728672178
NGERA Omar HRM Morning 3rd year student, Tel: 0788674227, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
UMURERWA Belinda TTM Evening 2nd year student, Tel: 0788546083, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
NDIZEYE John Kennedy HRM Evening 3rd year student, Tel: 0722012597, E-mail:
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MURINDAHABI Ibrahim Morning 3rd year student, Tel: 0783008526, E-mail:
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MINISTER IN CHARGE OF PROTOCOL
MBABAZI Eppy TTM Evening 2nd year student, Tel: 0788519455, E-mail:
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MUCYO Philbert TTM Morning 2nd year student, Tel: 0788561785, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF GENDER PROMOTION
SUMWIZA Grace TTM Evening 2nd year student, Tel: 0788637787, E-mail:
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UMUTESI Solange HRM Evening 3rd year student, Tel: 0788542123, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS
GISAGARA Augustin TTM Evening 3rd year student, Tel: 0788856526
NSHIMIYANA Eugene TTM Morning 2nd year student, Tel: 0788585863, E-mail:
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MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOTEL PROMOTION
MUREKATETE Alphonsine TTM Evening 3rd year student, Tel: 0788771069, E-mail:
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MURENGANSHURO Jovit TTM Morning 3rd year student, Tel: 0788605335
MINISTER OF SECURITY
KAYITANI Andrew RUTAGENGWA HRM Evening 2nd year student, Tel: 0788774957, E-mail:
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SHEMA Frederick HRM Morning 3rd year student, Tel: 0788874874, E-mail:
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Morning Vs evening students ratio: 8 = 36.4%: 14 = 63.6% = 1:2 respectively.
SURTUC is currently making bilateral arrangements with the Students Union of ISTOU ( Institut Superieur de Tourisme) of Goma- DRC who are planning to visit RTUC in December 2010 where we shall together hold debates on various tourism related topics, play friendly matches, perform cultural shows among other activities.
The SURTUC committee has also designed and obtained a standard stamp which has the features of the logo so as to legalize its endorsement on various documents.
Among these projects are:
1. SURTUC is planning to start up a driving School at RTUC campus with at least one car not later than February next year, which will be used to train students in road safety rules and regulations and driving and collectively securing driving permits of various categories for successful students in collaboration with the National Police and other relevant authorities, bearing in mind that driving skills are prerequisite for most of the Tourism, Travel and hotel industry professionals.
2. We are also, together with the AERG planning to set up a Public Secretarial and cyber internet shop using the 15 computers and printer obtained from SURF and photocopier from AERG head office. We shall purchase other needed equipment for secretarial services so that photocopying of notes, writing, printing and binding of final students’ dissertations, study tour, internship and research reports at cheaper prices.
3. Any other project that will be deemed necessary, urgent and feasible within the SURTUC capacity.
Our success will largely depend on our commitment as SURTUC leadership but in full support by the SURTUC members; the RTUC students who should fully develop a sense of membership to it; and any relevant external support.
It should be realized that the Students Union Leadership is a very important foundation level of the entire University administration and acts as a “shock absorber” for both the students and the University administration and may absorb any possible shock or misunderstanding from either side.
It is a swift and convenient channel through which communication and implementation of University policies are made possible. Any University administration trying to strengthen itself but under-rates, under-equips and neglects the Students Union as a major micro administrational component is like building a house of concrete walls but on flat swampy surface without a foundation or climbing on a ladder with the bottom segments made of papyrus reeds. Such won’t succeed because students are the primary clients of any learning institution that should be involved in affaires that concern them if success is to be achieved for all the stakeholders.
