ºìÐÓÊÓƵ has forged a global partnership with Rwanda to advance education, workforce development and the creative economy in the region.
Building on a long-standing collaboration, ºìÐÓÊÓƵ is expanding its presence in Rwanda through academic partnerships, industry engagement and the formal launch of ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Rwanda in June 2026.
Why ºìÐÓÊÓƵ State
Founded in 1910 in Ohio, ºìÐÓÊÓƵ is a public R1 research university offering more than 300 academic programs to 38,000 students across eight campuses and international centers.
ºìÐÓÊÓƵ State is recognized worldwide for strength in fashion, aerospace engineering, peace and conflict studies, business and the arts, and operates study centers in New York, Paris, Florence and Geneva.
Marcello Fantoni, Vice President, Global EducationToday, ºìÐÓÊÓƵ is a global university. We have a presence on nearly every continent of this planet.
Why Rwanda
Rwanda’s commitment to innovation, education and economic development makes it a strategic location for long-term partnership.
With a growing creative economy and strong national policy alignment, the country is positioned to serve as a regional hub for education and industry collaboration.
The work aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the Creative Economy Policy, each of which identifies skills development, job creation and economic diversification as national priorities.
H.E. President Paul Kagame, Vision 2050[Rwandans] want access to world-class education, right here at home.
Why Fashion
The ºìÐÓÊÓƵ State School of Fashion is consistently ranked among the world’s leading programs, and Africa’s expanding creative economy offers a shared opportunity to support talent development, innovation and economic growth in Rwanda and beyond.
It is one of Vogue’s named Best Fashion Schools, ranked Top 25 globally by Fashionista and Top 30 by CEO World, and recognized by Business of Fashion for Global Influence and Learning Experience. PrepScholar ranks the school #2 among public fashion schools in the United States.
VOGUETheir programs rival fashion schools in the country’s larger fashion cities thanks to their global approach to education and thoroughness in curating a program that’s outstanding both within and outside of the classroom.
One hundred percent of students complete an internship and a study-away experience. Ninety percent of graduates find employment in their field within one year. More than 5,000 alumni work in the industry worldwide at brands including Chanel, Nike, Gucci, LVMH and Calvin Klein.
What's Next
Photo credit: Paul Kagame at the 9th Broadband Commission Meeting — © ITU/J. Ohle, , via Wikimedia Commons