Rwandan President Paul Kagame stands at center with a delegation of eight people posed on the steps inside the Office of the President in Kigali, Rwanda. Two Rwandan flags and an official government seal are visible in the background.

Symposium

June 19, 2026 · Kigali

Kent State University hosted a high-level symposium to formally unveil the proposed Kent State University Rwanda and convened leaders from government, academia and industry.

Purpose

The symposium:

Established a shared vision for the initiative
Aligned stakeholders across sectors
Strengthened institutional partnerships
Signaled long-term commitment and collaboration

Program Highlights

Academic keynote on the creative and fashion industries in Africa
Multi-stakeholder panel discussion
Formal project presentation and official launch declaration
Ministerial address
Curated local designer pop-up showcase
Networking cocktail reception and fashion presentation

Participants

Approximately 70 invited participants from government, higher education, industry and development organizations.

Kent State Representation

Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., dean and vice president for the College of Honors and Global Education, was in Kigali for the symposium with an official Kent State delegation. Senior university leadership participated remotely.