Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship

MSI schools will be university preparatory in order to prepare students to matriculate to universities in Rwanda and throughout East Africa. Students in grades 7 through 9 will take a core curriculum providing a broad foundation of coursework in Math, English, Science, Language, and the Social Sciences.  

In grades 10 through 12, students will choose a concentration (much like a major in American universities) of Science, Technology, or Entrepreneurship. Each of these areas have been identified by the Rwandan government as integral in their plan to transform the country from primarily subsistence agriculture into a knowledge-based economy.

The synergy created by students studying Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship and collaborating together on ideas has enormous potential for creating the businesses that will transform the Rwandan economy.  Students highly educated in these sectors will not only be able to obtain jobs, but more importantly, will be job creators who build a dynamic economy.

Entrepreneurship

MSI's entrepreneurship concentration will teach students the skills required to start and run their own businesses.  Students will study finance, accounting, assessing an opportunity, and building the right team to achieve success.  Entrepreneurship students' studies will culminate with a business plan competition during their final year of study.  This competition will allow students to synthesize the business knowledge they have acquired into a potential business venture.

Target careers include entrepreneurship, finance, and accounting.

Case Study Method

MSI has been working closely with Harvard Business School (HBS) students and professors William Sahlman and James Heskett to develop the entrepreneurship curriculum. In January 2010, a group of HBS students traveled to Rwanda to write the first collection of case studies profiling Rwandan entrepreneurs. These case studies will form the basis for the entrepreneurship curriculum at MSI, and in April 2010, the Rwandan Ministry of Education will be adopting the case studies as part of the national entrepreneurship curriculum. Case study teaching methods encourage the development of critical and creative thinking skills and promote student-teacher exchange.  In addition to teaching these vital skills, the cases will also provide inspiration to students. Learning about fellow Rwandans' success will encourage students to pursue their own business ventures.

Watch MSI's pilot case study here.

View an example case study here.

Science

The overall goal for the MSI science curriculum is to develop students with a deep understanding and an enduring curiosity for the wonders of science, and a passion to further their scientific knowledge for the betterment of the Rwandan community.

Unlike a traditional science curricula in the U.S., which generally focus on one science course each year, the Rwandan curriculum calls for biology, chemistry, and physics to be taught concurrently each year as separate courses.  In grades 7-9, each student will have 9 hours of science per week including time in the lab.  Students who choose to concentrate on science in grades 10-12 will have nearly 20 hours per week of primarily biology and chemistry, including 2-4 labs per week.

Target careers include:  physician, nurse, agronomist, and lab technician.

Technology

Rwanda has set an ambitious goal of becoming a hub for information technology in East Africa.  The demand for IT services in Rwanda and the region is overwhelming, but there is a significant lack of local people trained to handle this demand.  All MSI students will be proficient in basic computing including Internet search and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  Students who choose the computer science concentration in grades 10-12 will have 18 hours each week focused on IT.  Classes include Operating Systems, Algorithms, Web Design, Visual Basic, C++ Programming, and Networking. 

MSI believes there are great opportunities for IT students to work closely with entrepreneurship students to create many of the new businesses and services that will cultivate a new and dynamic Rwandan economy. 

Target careers include:  IT, web design, and entrepreneurship.

Core Subjects

MSI students' education will begin with a core curriculum in grades 7 through 9.  This core curriculum will lay the foundations of an exceptional education by exposing students to a broad range of subject matter and developing critical thinking skills. 

English

English is typically a third language for most Rwandan students (in addition to Kinyarwanda and French), but has recently become the primary language of instruction in the country. This poses unique challenges to students who must adequately grasp the English language before they can effectively study other subjects. MSI students will have 6 periods of English per week plus a designated reading/writing period 4 days per week. 

All components of the English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum are aligned with Rwandan standards and intentionally constructed to develop the English language skills needed for students to think critically, communicate effectively, and become contributing members of the global society.  The ELA curriculum is being designed by Kimberly Russell, a former member of Teach for America and current student at Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Kimberly is being advised by partners in Rwanda and in the U.S. 

Mathematics

Developing a strong foundation in mathematics will be essential for students who enter careers in science, technology, and entrepreneurship.  The rigorous mathematics curriculum will start with the most basic computation concepts and advance into calculus by grade 12.  In addition to teaching concepts and theory, the MSI Math curriculum will incorporate practical applications and critical thinking skills into each lesson.  These are skills that will be developed across the curriculum, but are particularly applicable in mathematics. Math will meet 6 times per week. 

To see an example of a typical core curriculum schedule for a MSI Rwanda student, please click here: Grades 7-9 Schedule

University Preparatory Education

Providing students with the opportunity for higher education is one of the most effective long-term strategies for creating stability and development in underdeveloped nations. MSI will utilize a competitive, university preparatory curriculum in conjunction with the Rwandan national curriculum. This rigorous course of study will most effectively allow its students to compete for admission to regional universities. MSI's focus in the areas of Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship and critical thinking skills, will ensure each graduate is prepared for a global society.

Extended School Day

In order to be academically prepared for university study, students will need to spend significant time outside the classroom in a safe, quiet, and well-lit environment working on their studies. To achieve this, MSI Rwinkwavu will be a boarding school, so students' needs are met even outside the classroom.