Welcome to IUCEA

Vision:  IUCEA becomes an exemplary common higher education area for a prosperous and sustainable East African Community by 2030.

Mission: To encourage and develop mutually beneficial collaboration between Member Universities and between them and Governments and other organizations, both public and private

IUCEA Core Values:  Accountability, Transparency, Unity, Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism and Teamwork

IUCEA executive members visiting IUCEA premise

IUCEA Acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Rai, giving opening remarks at the 4th STI Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on 30th of March 2026. EAC Ministers from Partner States with EAC Head of Institutions and Organs at the 4th STI Conference in Kigali on the 30th of March 2026. Participants at the National Sensitisation Workshop on March 9, 2026, together with the IUCEA Acting Executive Secretary Prof. Idris A. Rai and Hon. Claudette Irere, Minister of State for Education in Rwanda. Prof. Idris Rai, the Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA, along with Hon. Andrea Ariik Malueth, the Deputy Secretary General of the EAC, and teams from GIZ and EASTECO at the IUCEA Headquarters on 20th of February 2026.
 IUCEA Acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Rai, giving his opening speech at Munyonyo resort on the 8th of December 2025 Different stakeholders at the ACE II Technical and Advisory Meeting on the 8th of December 2025 in Munyonyo Resort Hotel. Prof. Idris Rai, the IUCEA Acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Caroline Nombo, the PS of the Ministry of Education, Tanzania, and participants at the Harmonised Guidelines for Higher Education Data Management Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 October 2025. IUCEA Acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Rai and stakeholders from EAC Partner States in Dar es salaam, Tanzania at the Workshop of Recognition of Prior Learning. Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), the Minister of Higher Education of the DRC, the Minister of Regional Cooperation of the DRC, the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), representatives from EAC partner states at the 16th Annual Meeting and Conference of IUCEA, in Kinshasa on July 29, 2025. Stakeholders from EAC Partner States in Bujumbura on the 7th of August 2025 at the validation workshop for the fee structure model for higher education institutions in the East African Community.
 Participants at the EACARNRI Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, on the 26th of June 2025. Different stakeholders at the Regional Dialogue Workshop on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications in East Africa, held on June 19, 2025, at Entebbe, Uganda. IUCEA Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Rai, with participants during the Artificial Intelligence Workshop in Zanzibar on 13th May 2025. IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, with Postgraduate Supervisors at Admas Hotel on the 21st of May 2025. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the Executive Secretary of IUCEA, and participants during the Capacity Building Training Workshop of Quality Assurance Practitioners in Bujumbura, Burundi, on April 28, 2025. IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, and the Translators in Bujumbura on the 1st May 2025 L- R Mr. Ousmane Diagana, Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, World Bank His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education, The Republic of Ghana His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Executive Secretary, Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) Deputy Chairperson of IUCEA Executive Committee, Prof. Rose, IUCEA Executive Secretary, Minister of Education Rwanda, and Executive Secretary of EASTECO at APPPF conference in Kigali Rwanda on 12th March 2025. IUCEA Executive Secretary, Minister of Education Rwanda, and Executive Secretary of EASTECO with participants at APPPF conference in Kigali Rwanda on 13th March 2025. Stakeholders group photo during the workshop on EAC Common Higher Education Area on 20th March 2025 in Nairobi A photo of Higher Education Authorities from EAC Partner States on friday 21th of March 2025 in Nairobi , Kenya. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Robert Deng, IUCEA Chairperson of Executive Committee, Prof. Rai, Deputy Executive Secretary and VC-KCA University at the 40th Executive Committee Meeting, January 15th in Bujumbura Burundi. IUCEA Executive Committee Members pose for a group photo during the January 15th, 2025 meeting in Bujumbura. On November 20, 2024, IUCEA Executive Secretary Prof. Banyankimbona and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education in Tanzania with representatives from IUCEA member universities in Dar es Salaam. During the National Sensitization Workshop held in Dar es Salaam on November 20, 2024, the IUCEA Executive Secretary joined representatives from EAC partner states for a group photo. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the Executive Secretary of IUCEA, met with stakeholders during the EAQAN meeting held at the Safari Club Hotel in Nairobi on September 9, 2024. IUCEA New Board Members and IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Banyankimbona at Hilton Garden Inn Hotel , Kampala on 1st of October 2024. IUCEA, Executive Secretary, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona , EALA MP and members of Staff from IUCEA Member Universities
during EAC-Scholarhsip Programme Summer School Tour at USIU-Africa on the 17th of October 2024. Young Scholars of EAC under EAC-Scholarship Scheme at USIU-Africa on the 19th of October 2024.
 A group photo during the IUCEA stakeholders workshop on the 14th of October 2024 at Safari Club Hotel, Nairobi Kenya. Stakeholders group photo on 27/8/2024 at Admass Hotel, Entebbe Uganda. IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof.Banyankimbona with the former Chair of the IUCEA Executive Committee Prof. Calixte Kabera,
newly elected Executive Committee Chair Prof. Robert Mayom, and Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Rai on
18th of July 2024 at Imperial Plaza, Juba. Newly elected Executive Committee and the former Executive Committee members on the 18th of July 2024
at Imperial Plaza, Juba-South Sudan. His Excellency Hussein Akol, the vice president of South Sudan, Hon.James Hoth Mai, Minister of Labour, Republic of South Sudan,
IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Banyankimbona, Undersecretary Ministry of East African Community affairs, Juba and
Higher Education Councils and Commissions representatives from EAC partner States on the 17th of July 2024 at Imperial Plaza,
Juba-South Sudan. His Excellency Hussein Akol, the vice president of South Sudan, Hon.James Hoth Mai, Minister of Labour, Republic of South Sudan,
IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Banyankimbona and Vice Chancellors of Universities from IUCEA member Universities
on the 17th of July 2024 at Imperial Plaza, Juba-South Sudan. A group photo of IUCEA Communication team with facilitators, ACE II Centers of Excellence participants from Malawi, Mozambique and
Tanzania during the Communication workshop in Malawi, Lilongwe on the 27th of May 2024 Executive Secretary, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona with First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, and Ambassadors of South Sudan,
Burundi and Rwanda to Uganda on 19th of July 2023 at IUCEA Headquarters, Kyambogo. EALA MPs Committee on Accounts Oversight with IUCEA staff on the 21st of May 2024 at IUCEA Headquarters ,Kigobe Road, Kyambogo. A group photo of IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Banyankimbona with Vice Chancellors and
educational experts during the EAC-SMS consultative meeting at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi on the 15th March 2024. Executive Secretary Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona with participants for Quality Assurance practitioners
at Entebbe, Uganda. Members of the IUCEA Executive Committee (2022-2024) after election during the General Assembly
in Bujumbura, Burundi. The Principal Secretary, State Department of Vocational and Technical Training, Ministry of Education in Kenya,
Dr. Margaret Mwakima (Centre) with Director, TVET, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Tanzania,
Dr. Noel Mbonde (Left) and Dr. Genene Abebe (Right), the Chairperson, the Technical Working Group
after signing a communique to adopt the Regional TVET Qualifications Framework for the 3 countries. Kenya National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration Visits IUCEA Vice Chancellors, Permanent Secretaries and CEO of Commissions
and Councils of Higher Education from EAC Partner States at the
IUCEA Annual Conference Prof. Idris Rai, the IUCEA Acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Caroline Nombo, the PS of the Ministry of Education, Tanzania, and participants at the Harmonised Guidelines for Higher Education Data Management Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 October 2025. IUCEA Executive Committee members during the 42nd meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi, on January 29, 2026.
Vision

To become the leading EAC Institution for an exemplary Common Higher Education Area for a prosperous and sustainable East African Community

Mission

To encourage and develop mutually beneficial collaboration between Member Universities and between them and Governments and other organisations, both public and private

The objectives of IUCEA’s Strategic Plan 2021-2026 aim at furthering:

  1. Higher education sector coordination at the regional level by IUCEA.
  2. Regional harmonization of higher education systems, comprising the mutual recognition of qualifications and the mobility of staff, students, graduates, and professionals within the region and beyond.
  3. Professionalization of leadership and management of higher education institutions, resulting in outputs which drive the economic, social and ecological development in an integrated EAC.
  4. Adoption and utilization of technology at higher education institutions.
  5. Availability of integrated higher education information at IUCEA’s information portal.
  6. Dynamic interaction of knowledge generation, translation and realization processes for a sustainable Knowledge-Based Economy in the EAC. Readmore

The IUCEA Act, 2009

In 2009 the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) enacted the IUCEA Act 2009, thus effectively integrating IUCEA into the EAC operational framework. The Act spells out the objectives, functions, institutional setup and systems of governance and management of IUCEA. According to the Act any university, university college, and degree awarding institution may apply for and get admitted to the IUCEA membership as long as it is properly incorporated in the EAC Partner State where it is operating and is pursuing objectives that are consistent with the functions of IUCEA as spelled out in the Act.

Act establishing IUCEA Secretariat - Act 2009.pdf
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IUCEA executive members visiting IUCEA premise

Functions of the council

Ensure development of a comprehensive electronic Network linking member universities, for use in supporting and promoting new methods of teaching and learning, information dissemination by the Council and between member universities and research partners.

Membership

IUCEA has rules governing membership and establish the application process, eligibility, categories, and admission and termination of IUCEA membership. The IUCEA membership comprises of universities, university colleges, and other institutions.

Projects & Programmes

IUCEA interventions are supported by the EAC Partner States and the network of stakeholders including Development Partners from the region and beyond. The following are the current programmes and projects that are implemented or coordinated by IUCEA.

News, Opportunities & Upcoming Events

East Africa Takes a Defining Step toward a Regional AI Network

Inter-University Council for East Africa, in collaboration with East African Science and Technology Commission…

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Call for Universities to Participate as Nodes in the Establishment of a Regional Network on Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research.

IUCEA in collaboration with East African Science Technology Commission (EASTECO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für…

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INVITATION TO APPLY TO HOST STUDENTS UNDER PHASE II OF THE EAC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is implementing the EAC Scholarship Programme (Leadership to…

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Scholarship Opportunity Undergraduate and Graduate under Daejin _ IUCEA

Background: Daejin University, a fully accredited private university in Pocheon, Republic of Korea. The…

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Call for Application for KDU Global Partial Graduate Scholarship for Self-Sponsored East Africans at Kyungdong University Global, South Korea Fall 2026 (Second Cohort)

KDU Global Scholarship I. Introduction The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an…

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Call for Applications: KDU Global – IUCEA Undergraduate Full and Partial Scholarships 2026 (7th Cohort)

INTRODUCTION The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an institution of the East…

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