ACE- ACEITLMS- IP September 2016 FINAL SEPT 16

ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

African Centre of Excellence
East and Southern Africa

African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Teaching
and Learning Mathematics and Science (ACEITLMS)

[ACE II ESC82]

Implementation Plan
2016– 2020
(June 2016)


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

Table of contents
ACE TEMPLATE................................................................................................................1
Implementation Plan..........................................................................................................1
ACE TEMPLATE................................................................................................................2
Implementation Plan..........................................................................................................2
1.BRIEF NARRATIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................4
ACE TEMPLATE..............................................................................................................10
Implementation Plan........................................................................................................10
2.OVERVIEW OF PLANNED OUTPUTS,ACTIVITIES AND COST FOR FIRST YEAR.......10
ACE TEMPLATE..............................................................................................................11
Implementation Plan........................................................................................................11
3.TIMING OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR ENTIRE PROJECT PERIOD...........................17

4.IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS..............................................................................23
ACE TEMPLATE..............................................................................................................23
Implementation Plan........................................................................................................23
4.1 Guiding rules and regulations.......................................................................................23
4.2 Governance structure....................................................................................................23
ACE TEMPLATE..............................................................................................................40
Implementation Plan........................................................................................................40
4.3 Academic management.................................................................................................24
4.4 Financial management and procurement.....................................................................24
4.5 Incentive structures.......................................................................................................25
4.6 Project team Roles and responsibilities........................................................................27
4.7 Environmentsafeguards................................................................................................32
PERFORMANCE MONITORING............................................................................................32
Error! Not a valid link.DETAILED ACTIVITY SHEETS (one for each activity in year 1)..36

List of tables
Table 1: A summary of planned activities (2016-2021)........................................................7
Table 2: Overview of the first project year..........................................................................10
Table 3: Overview of the first year distribution of the financial means among partners
..................................................................................................................................................13
Table 4: Work plan for the project........................................................................................17
Table 5: Overview of core project team...............................................................................27
Table 6: Disbursement Linked Indicators...........................................................................32

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Implementation Plan

List of abbreviations
AU: African Union
ACEITLMS: African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Teaching and Learning
Mathematics and Science
AKU: Aga Khan University
DLI: Disbursement Linked Indicators
DLR: Disbursement Linked Results
EAC: East African Community
ENS: Ecole Normale Superieure, Burundi
IUCEA: Inter University Council for East Africa
ICMI: International Commission of Mathematical Instruction
ICT: Information, Communication and Technology
IMU: International Mathematical Union
KU: Kenyatta University, Kenya
MMUST: Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology,
MU: Makerere University, Uganda
MUST: Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda
REB: Rwanda Education Board, Rwanda

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Implementation Plan
RFU: Regional Facilitation Unit
RIT: Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
SUZ: State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania
UB: University of Bristol, UK
UC: University of Copenhagen, Dandemark
UDSM: University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

UKZN: University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
UNIK: University of Kibungo, Rwanda
UR: University of Rwanda, Rwanda
UR-CASS: University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Sciences, Rwanda
UR-CE: University of Rwanda- College of Education, Rwanda
MSPE: Mathematics, Science and Physical Education. Rwanda
NARST: National Association for Research in Science Teaching

1. BRIEF NARRATIVE SUMMARY
The African Union (AU) envisions science, technology and innovation as one of the
major drivers in achieving its vision of becoming a prosperous continent by 2063. In
line with this, East African Community (EAC) member states that include Rwanda
are convinced that any economic development could be achieved by promoting
quality and effective teaching of sciences and mathematics. It is commonly believed
that effective teaching and learning of mathematics and sciences is the basic
foundation in building human capacity for an innovative and knowledge-based
economy. As Africa tries to position itself as an emerging economy, effective teaching
of mathematics and science will play a critical role in the much needed technology
for societal economic development.
However, like in many other developing countries across the Africa continent,
Rwanda has limited capacity in all sectors including education that has continued to
be a big challenge in achieving national economic targets. It is observed that the
current teaching is dominated by traditional methods that do not promote scientific
literacy and positive attitudes towards science and mathematics. In addition, there is
lack of sufficient integration of ICT in teaching and learning. Consequently, students
emerge from learning institutions with serious gaps in competencies and skills
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ACE TEMPLATE

Implementation Plan
required to address both individual and societal needs as far as economic
development is concerned. Major challenges include (i) a significant curriculum
disconnect between outcomes and real world experiences, (ii) poor research
outcomes to inform policy, (iii) shortage of professional science and mathematics
educators in higher learning institutions, (iv) non-existence of systematic in-service
training programme, (v) low level of integration of new technologies in teaching and
learning, (vi) insufficient number of students at postgraduate level, and (vii) gender
imbalance in both staff and students.
To address the above challenges, the University of Rwanda-College of Education
(UR-CE) proposes the creation of Innovative Teaching and Learning Mathematics
and Science (ACEITLMS). The centre will aim at strengthening human capacity to
deliver research-based quality teaching and learning of mathematics and science.
Specifically it will offer postgraduate educational reform program that will produce
graduates at international standards and local relevance. The centre’s activities will
expand beyond Rwanda in partnership with other institutions across the region and
worldwide. It will be governed by a steering committee that will be the supreme
authority of the project in decision making and will meet twice a year.
Methodology and target outputs
The centre will run three activities namely bringing innovation into teaching and
learning, research and training, and community engagement. In all these, the centre
will consider integration of ICT and inclusiveness. This will have a multiplier effect
both in Rwanda and in the region.
i)
For teaching and learning, ACEITLMS consortium will design anddevelop
outstanding PhD and MEd courses in mathematics and science education for URCE and other regional partner Universities. The design and development of
curricula will target the delivery of innovative pedagogical approaches that explicitly
address the competency gap among graduates.
ii) Concerning research and trainings, the centre will conduct and support research
aiming at addressing societal needs. It will deliver indispensable training and support

in building capacity of educators in the region to conduct relevant and quality
research through Masters, PhD and Post-Doctoral fellowship projects. The centre will
also run short-term training programs for university and secondary school teachers in
the region. This training of trainers (TOT) activity of the centre will focus on
curriculum development of mathematics, science and use of ICT.
iii) In serving the community, the Centre will organize science and mathematics
outreach programs targeting all educational levels across the region. These outreach
activities will be done through public presentations, seminars, road shows and
science demonstrations using “Mobile Labs.
Regional and international partnership
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Implementation Plan
The centre plans to expand research, trainings and learning opportunities on
innovative mathematics and science education across national and regional
academic partners, both private and public institutions. National and regional
academic partners have been identified for partnership and collaboration. At national
level, the link will be closely made with schools serving as centres of excellence in
teaching and learning science and mathematics.
At regional level researchers of ACEITLMS will collaborate with their counterparts
from identified regional academic partners through joint research projects. This will
include co- supervision of Postgraduate research projects, co-authoring papers,
presenting papers in conferences, publications as well as students and staff
exchange.
Regional partners include Kenyatta University (KU), MasindeMuliro University of
Science and Technology (MMUST), State University of Zanzibar (SUZ),Aga Khan
University(AKU), Makerere University (MU) and, University of Dar-es Salaam (UDM),
etc.

International partners of the centre are among others, the University of Bristol (UB),
the University of Copenhagen (UC), and the University of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN).
By the end of the proposed ACEITLMS project period, the following outputs are
expected:
•

Five Postdoctoral fellows recruited, 32 PhDs and 80 MEd Maths/Science
enrolled of which 30% will be from regional partner institutions. To ensure
gender inclusivity, (at least 35%) of all students will be females.

•

Three well equipped science laboratories, one (1) ICT Lab, about 500 books
and subscription of about 20 e-journals for Library and one video-conference.

•

Four accredited curricula for ACEITLMS developed, implemented and
reviewed locally and across the region.

•

Three capacity building trainings/workshops on innovative methods for
teaching mathematics and science including use of ICT organised.

•

One hundred twenty university and schoolteachers trained as ToTs to serve in
training centres across the region.

•

Four international/regional
workshops organized.

•

At least 40 faculty staff and students will be supported to participate in
regional/international conferences.

•

Five collaborative research projects on innovative methods in mathematics
and science education supported and accomplished

research

6

conferences

and

three

regional


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

•

Thirty-five research papers published in peer-reviewed journals and
conference proceedings.

•

Five MoUs signed and operationalized for collaboration.
Table 1: A summary of planned activities (2016-2021)

Target group/
educational level
-Members of Faculty
(ACEITLMS)
-Key
partners

Teaching /and
leaning

academic

Training

Research

-Get trained on
innovative
pedagogy in
Maths &

science

-Design research
funded projects

-Training on
efficient use of
ICT in Science
& Maths
-Training on
research
methods, data
analysis and
postgraduate
supervision
-Organization
of workshops
-Get trained on
innovative
pedagogy in
Maths &
science

Post Doc

-Training on
efficient use of
ICT in Science
& Maths
-Training on

research
methods, data
analysis

Postgraduate
programs

PhD
- Programs
design,
evaluation and
review

Organization of
workshops
-Training on
Curriculum
revision &
evaluation
-Workshops

7

-Engage in
collaborative
research
-Supervision
-Research
conferences
Publications

-Engage in
collaborative
research
-Research
conferences
Publications

-Research
projects
-Research
collaboration

Outreach


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
Postgraduate PhD
students

-Design
accredited PhD
programs

-summer
schools
-workshops

-Programs

evaluation and
review
-Delivery of
PhD courses

-internships

-Fellowships
-support for action
research

-Delivery of
seminars

Postgraduate MEd
programs

Programs
design
,evaluation and
review

-Training on
Curriculum
revision &
evaluation

-Research
projects
-Research

collaboration

-Workshops

Postgraduate MEd
students

-summer
schools
-workshops

-Fellowships
-support for action
research

-internships
Undergraduate
programs

- Curriculum
revision &
evaluation

-Training on
Curriculum
revision &
evaluation
-Workshops on
innovative
pedagogy

TTCs / Secondary
schools/teachers/
students

- Curriculum
revision &
evaluation

-Training on
Curriculum
revision &
evaluation
-Workshops on
innovative
pedagogy
-Various ToTs

8

-Research on
existing curricula
-Testing
/Experimenting
programs
developed by
ACEITLMS
project
-Research on
existing curricula

-Testing
/Experimenting
programs
developed by
ACEITLMS
project

-Outreach
activities (e.g.
On innovative
teaching
/learning
methods ,
popularization
of science,
etc.).


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

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Implementation Plan

2. OVERVIEW OF PLANNED OUTPUTS,ACTIVITIES AND COST FOR FIRST YEAR
Table 2: Overview of the first project year

Code

Priority rank

Activity 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6

1
2
1
1
2
1

1.7
1.8

3
2

Activity 2
2.1
2.2

2

2

2.3
2.4

1
1

2.5

2

2.6

2

2.7

1

Result/Activity/Task
Learning & Training Excellence
Design/Review of programs
Books for Library
Enrolment of MEd students
Enrolment of PhD students
Recruitment of Postdocs Fellows
Training of academic staff in
postgraduate supervision
Training Science, ICT and Laboratory

Supervision of interns
Subtotal
Research Excellence
Subscription to e-journals
Organizationof a research
conference
Research equipment
Action Research and internship at
partner institutions
Support PhD students to go to
international conferences
Support academic staff and postdocs
to attend international conferences
Support national and regional
academic staff and researchers to

Budget Estimate (US$)
ACE
partner Total
Leader
s
34080
24000
63800
26535
0
22500

0
0

29400
16101
18500
0

34080
24000
93200
42636
18500
22500

0
0
170915

0
0
64001

0
0
234916

12500
12200

0
14300

12500
26500

0
0

0
0

0

0

0

0

37500

0

37500


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

Activity 3
3.1
3.2

1
1

Activity 4
Activity 5
5.1
5.2

1
2

5.3

3

Activity 6
6.1

2

6.2

1

6.3

2

6.4

6.5

1
1

6.6

2

Activity 7

conduct research in mathematics and
sciences Education
Subtotal 2
Quality Assurance
Organization an internal evaluation
Hiring external auditors/examiners
Subtotal 3
Equity Dimension
Attracting academic staff &
students from the region
Establishment of a regional network
Regional resource mapping and
inception workshop
Conduct outreach programs and
seminars at national and regional
level
Subtotal 4
National & Regional Academic
partners

Workshop with academic from the
region
Support academic exchange for
capacity building
Support academic staff to go for
short courses
Students visits for joint research
Support for regional and international
accreditations
Facilitate distance exchange with
academic using video conference
subtotal 6
National & Regional sector
partners
11

62200

14300

76500

400
10000
10400
0

0
0
0

0

400
10000
10400
0

10500
22260

0
34740

10500
57000

20000

0

20000

52760

34740

87500

0

0

0

36000

20500

56500

36000

0

36000

0
0

0
0

0
0

0

0

0

72000

20500

92500


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
7.1

2

Activity 8
8.1

1

Activity 9
9.1

3

9.2
9.3
9.4

1
1

1

Activity 10
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4

1
1
2
2

Activity 11
11.1

1

Workshop for staff development with
sector partners
Subtotal 7
Collaboration with international
academic partners
PhD students research visits
Subtotal 8
Management and governance
Equipment of the centre Offices
&stationaries
Salaries non-academic (4 staffs)
Meetings of the steering committee

Meetings of all ACEIIs organized by IUCEA/RFU

Subtotal 9
Sustainable financing
Purchase Science Lab equipment
Purchase ICT Lab equipment
Workshop on Grant Proposal writing
Purchase and equip a guest house
subtotal 10
Monitoring & evaluation
Setting up monitoring and evaluation
Subtotal 11
GRAND TOTAL
%

12

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0
0

0
0

40200

0

40200

21000
4500
5200
70900

0
6000
0
6000

21000
10500
5200
76900

0

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

2000
2000
441175
76.0

0
0
139541
24.0

2000
2000
580716

100


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
Table 3: Overview of the first year distribution of the financial means among partners
Budget Estimate (US$)
SUZ,UDM
&
AKU

KU
&
MMUST

MU,MUST
&
Busitema

ENS

UKZN,UB
&
UC

REB/TTCs

IUCEA/RFU

Total

Design/Review of programs

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.2

Books for Library

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.3

Enrolment of MEd students

9800

9800

4900

4900

0

0

0

29400

1.4

Enrolment of PhD students

5367

5367

5367

0

0

0

0

16101

1.5

Recruitment of Postdocs Fellows

18500

0

0

0

0

0

0

18500

1.6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.7

Training of academic staff in

postgraduate supervision
Training Science, ICT and Laboratory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.8

Supervision of interns

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Subtotal 1

33667

15167

10267

4900

0

0

0

64001

Code

Result/Activity/Task

Activity
1
1.1

Learning & Training Excellence

Activity
2
2.1

Research Excellence
Subscription to e-journals

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.2

Organization of a research conference

3060

3060

3060

1530

3060

530

0

14300

2.3

Research equipment

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.4

Action Research and internship at
partner institutions
Support PhD students to go to
international conferences

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.5

13


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
2.6
2.7

Support academic staff and postdocs

to attend international conferences
Support national and regional
academic staff and researchers to
Subtotal 2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3060

3060

3060

1530

3060

530

0

14300

Activity
3
3.1

Quality Assurance
Organization an internal evaluation

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3.2

Hiring external auditors/examiners
Subtotal 3

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

Activity
4
Activity
5

Equity dimension

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5.1

Establishment of a regional network

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5.2

Regional resource mapping and
inception workshop
Conduct outreach programs and
seminars at national and regional level
Subtotal 5

7720

7720

7720

3860

7720

0

0

34740

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

7720

7720

7720

3860

7720

0

0

34740

Workshop with academic from the
region
Support academic exchange for
capacity building
Support academic staff to go for short
courses

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

0

0

20500

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6.3

Students visits for joint research

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6.4

Support for regional and international
accreditations

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6.5

Facilitate distance exchange with

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5.3

Activity
6

6.1
6.2

Attracting academic staff &
students from the region

National & Regional academic
partners

14


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
6.6

subtotal 6

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

0

0

20500

National & regional sector partners

Activity
7

Workshop for staff development with
sector partners

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

7.1

Subtotal 7

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Collaboration with international
academic partners

0

Activity
8

PhD students research visits

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

8.1

Subtotal 8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9.2

Equipment of the centre Offices &
stationaries
Salaries non academic (4 staffs)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9.3

Meetings of the steering committee

1200

1200

1200

1200

1200

0

0

6000

9.4

Meetings of all ACEIIs organized by IUCEA/RFU

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Subtotal 9

1200

1200

1200

1200

1200

0

0

6000

Management and governance
Activity
9
9.1

Activity
10
10.1

Sustainable financing
Purchase Science Lab equipment

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10.2

Purchase ICT Lab equipment

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10.3

Workshop on Grant Proposal writing

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10.4

Purchase and equip a guest house

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Subtotal 10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

15


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
Activity
11

Setting up a monitoring and
evaluation system

11.1

Setting up monitoring and evaluation
system

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Subtotal 11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

GRAND TOTAL

49747

31247

26347

15590

16080

530

0

139541

%

35,7

22,4

18,9

11,2

11,5

0,4

0

16


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

3. TIMING OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR ENTIRE PROJECT PERIOD
Table 4: Work plan for the project

3

1.8

2

x

x

x

Enroll MEd
students
Enroll PhD
students
Postdoctoral
Fellows
Training academic
staff on
postgraduate
supervision
Training Sc.&ICT
Laboratory
Supervision of
interns

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Subscription
to e-journals

x

X

x
x

x

x

x
x

x

x

x

x

x

Action Plan 2:
Research
Excellence
2.1

2

x

17

x

April-June

1.7

Jan-March

1

x

Oct-Dec

1.6

x

July-Sept

2

Year 4
(2019-2020)
April-June

1.5

Jan-March

1

x

Oct-Dec

1.4

X

July-Sept

1

Year 3
(2018-2019)
April-June

1.3

x

Jan-March

2

X

Oct-Dec

1.2

Design/Review of
programs
Books for Library

July-Sept

1

Year 2
(2017-2018)
April-June

1.1

Action Plan 1:
Learning &
Training
Excellence

Year 1
(2016-2017)
Jan-March

Activity

Oct-Dec

Priority

July-Sept

Activity Plan

x

x

x


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

1

Organisation of an
Internal evaluation

3.2

1

Hiring External
auditors/Examiners

x

April-June

Action plan 3:
Quality
assurance
3.1

Jan-March

1

Oct-Dec

2.7

Support acad.staff
and postdocs to
attend international
conferences
Research grant

July-Sept

2

x

Year 4
(2019-2020)
April-June

2.6

Jan-March

Support PhD
students to go to
international
conferences

Oct-Dec

2

July-Sept

2.5

x

Year 3
(2018-2019)
April-June

1

Jan-March

2.4

Oct-Dec

1

July-Sept

2.3

Organisation of a
workshop on
Collaborative
Research
Conference
Research
Equipment
Action Research &
Internship at
partner institutions

April-June

2

Action Plan 1:
Learning &
Training
Excellence

Year 2
(2017-2018)

Jan-March

2.2

Year 1
(2016-2017)
Oct-Dec

Activity
July-Sept

Priority

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x
x

x

18

x

x
x

x

x
x

x

x
x

x


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

Oct-Dec

Jan-March

April-June

July-Sept

Oct-Dec

Jan-March

April-June

X

July-Sept

x

April-June

x

Jan-March

X

Year 4
(2019-2020)

Oct-Dec

Addressing equity

dimension

Year 3
(2018-2019)

July-Sept

4.1

Jan-March

Action Plan 4:
Equity
dimension

Year 2
(2017-2018)

April-June

Year 1
(2016-2017)

Oct-Dec

Activity

July-Sept

Priority

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Action Plan 5:
Attraction
academic staff
& students from
the region

5.1

1

Establishment of
regional network

x

5.2

2

x

5.3

3

Regional resource
mapping and
inception
workshop
Conduct outreach
programs and
seminars at
national and
regional level

X

x

x

x

x

x

x

X

19

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

April-June

Jan-March

Oct-Dec

2

July-Sept

6.6

Year 4
(2019-2020)

April-June

1

Jan-March

6.5

Oct-Dec

1

July-Sept

6.4

Support academic
staff exchange for
capacity building
Support Academic
staff to go to short
courses

Year 3
(2018-2019)

April-June

2

Jan-March

6.3

Oct-Dec

1

July-Sept

6.2

Facilitate distance
exchange with
academic staff
using video
conferencing
Workshop with
academics from
the region

Year 2
(2017-2018)

April-June

2

Action Plan 6:
National &
Regional
Academic
partners

Jan-March

6.1

Year 1
(2016-2017)

Oct-Dec

Activity

July-Sept

Priority

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

student visits for

joint research

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Support for
regional &
international
accreditations

x

20

x


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

April-June

1

Jan-March

9.4

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Oct-Dec

1

July-Sept

x

9.3

Salaries for nonacademic staff (4 )
Meetings of the
Steering
committee
Meetings of all
ACE II organized
by IUCEA/RFU

Year 4
(2019-2020)
April-June

1

Jan-March

9.2

Oct-Dec

x

July-Sept

Equipment of the
Center Offices &
stationeries

Year 3
(2018-2019)
April-June

3

Jan-March

9.1

Oct-Dec

Students research
visits

July-Sept

1

Year 2
(2017-2018)
April-June

Workshop for staff
development with
the Sector
partners

Jan-March

2

Action Plan 7:
National &
Regional sector
partners
7.1

Year 1
(2016-2017)
Oct-Dec

Activity
July-Sept

Priority

x

Action Plan 8:
Collaboration
with
international

academic
partners
8.1

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Action Plan 9:
Management
and governance
x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

21


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

10.1

1

Purchase Science
Lab equipment

x

x

10.2

1

Purchase ICT Lab
equipment

x

x

10.3

2

Workshop on Grant
Proposal writing

10.4

2

Purchase and equip
a guest house

1

Set up a system of
monitoring and
evaluation

x

Year 4

(2019-

x

Oct-Dec

July-Sept

2020)
April-June

Jan-March

July-Sept

April-June

Jan-March

Oct-Dec

July-Sept

April-June

(20182019)

April-June

Year 3

Jan-March

(20172018)

Jan-March

Action Plan 10:
Sustainable
financing

Year 2

Oct-Dec

Year 1
(2016-2017)
Oct-Dec

Activity

July-Sept

Priority

x

x

Action Plan 11:
Setting up a
monitoring and
evaluation system
11.1

X

22

x

x

x

ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan

4. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
4.1 Guiding rules and regulations
The ACEITLMS will operate as an academic unit within the University Of Rwanda,
College Of Education with the primary mandate of bringing innovation into teaching
and learning mathematics and science in Rwanda and across the East African
region. All activities of the centre will comply with the University of Rwanda
governance, academic programs, research conduct and ethics, faculty and staff
placement and development, and financial management and procurement. The
activities ofnational, regional and international partners that are funded, as part of
collaboration with the centre such as payments for goods and services will be paid
directly from the University of Rwanda. In this respect funds will not be transferred to
partner institutions for disbursement. To ensure timely and accurate movement of
finances as well as procurement of goods and services meet quality standards, the
canter will conform to university organizational structures and World Bank’s policies.
To facilitate this internal accounts and procurement officers will be hired by the
centre.

4.2 Governance structure
The centre will be hosted at UR-CE, one of the UR Colleges, which has an
autonomous status. This is defined by Law No 71/2013 of 10/09/2013 and governed
by the Board of Governors and an Academic Senate with strong staff and student
representation, along with the Vice Chancellor who is the University’s chief executive
officer.
The ACEITLMS Steering Committee will be the supreme authority of the project.This
committee will be composed of the Principal of UR-CE (Chair), Director and Deputy
Director of ACEITLMS, the Dean of School of Education, Directors of Research,

Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, and Centre for Teaching and Learning
Enhancement; five representatives from partners (four regional partners and one
international partner), etc. The Committee will be the main decision making body on
proposed programs and major activities, and will be meeting twice a year.
TheACEITLMS Project will meet the costs of representatives of the partners
attending the Steering Committee meetings.The ACEITLMS will be managed by a
Director and a Deputy will be assisted by chairpersons of five sub-committees: the
teaching and learning sub-committee, research and training sub-committee,
community engagement sub-committee, finance and logistics, and quality assurance
sub-committee.
The Director will report to the Principal of the College.ICT will play a great role in
ensuring accountability and transparency of the centre with regard to both financial
and human resources management. Like any other academic programme offered by


ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
the UR-CE, research, trainings and other programs of the centre will be evaluated
and approved by the academic quality assurance unit of the University of Rwanda.
4.3 Academic management
The centre will be part of the UR-CE. The UR-CE has two campuses: Remera
Campus and Rukara Campus. The UR-CE Remera campus has three schools,
namely the School of Education, the School of Open and Distance Learning and the
School of Inclusive and Special Needs Education. UR-CE Rukara Campus has one
school of lower secondary education. Both campuses will be involved in running the
centre activities. The centre will function as semi-autonomous entity and will operate
closely with the Department of Mathematics, Science and Physical Education
(MSPE) of the School of Education in the Remera Campus and the Department of
Science in the UR-CE Rukara Campus. The Centre will be sharing laboratories with
the Department of MSPE, Senior Lab Technicians within the MSPE department will

be assigned the responsibility of managing the equipment and Laboratory resources
of the Centre.
The office of the Director will coordinate all academic activities of the centre assisted
by the deputy leader. The teaching and learning sub-committee will be responsible
for all teaching and learning related activities including student recruitment and
assessments. The research and training sub-committee will be in charge of
proposals writing for network projects and grants negotiation, organization of
workshops and conferences, publications and ethical consideration. The community
engagement sub-committee will be responsible of all outreach programs and
seminars. The quality assurance sub-committee will be responsible to ensure that
curricula, research and other academic activities meet the standards of higher
education regionally and internationally. Through the quality assurance subcommittee, the centre will conduct regular semi-annual self-assessment. This
exercise will serve to motivate the internal mechanisms by identifying weaknesses
and strengths. A self-assessment report will provide comprehensive information
regarding objectives, structure and content of the academic programmes, learning
and teaching environment, and research and curriculum organization. The subcommittee will work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Centre
and the UR-CE Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement. Academic partners
shall be involved in ACEITLMS academic management through the Steering
Committee.
4.4 Financial management and procurement
The UR-CE directorate of finance is responsible for providing administration and
management services and other support services to its faculty, staff and students.
The Directorate has the needed human resource capacity to support the
implementation of the ACEITLMS project. The logistics and finance sub-committee
will be responsible for procurement, infrastructure management, etc. The centre
account and finance office rand procurement officer will serve as the link between
the centre and directorates of finance of UR and UR-CE for accountability and timely
24

ACE TEMPLATE
Implementation Plan
execution of financial transactions and reporting and procurement. The University of
Rwanda and UR-CE have in place financial regulations and structures to ensure
proper management of donor funds. In addition the Directorate has a tracking
system for monitoring the use of project funds. All requests for disbursement are
made with supporting documentation, which are processed and approved according
budget provisions. Grantees are also required to report on the progress of their
projects by submitting regular reports to the UR-directorate of finance. Monitoring on
the use of project funds is further enhanced by the use of ICT, which allows for easy
tracking of expenditures against project budgets and also for the preparation of
regular financial statements to funders.
The University’s procurement methods for goods and services include Single or Sole
Sourcing (where justified), Restricted or Selective Tendering (where justified),
National Competitive Tendering, Price Quotation and International Competitive
Tendering. These processes are well aligned with the World Bank procurement
guidelines. ACEITLMS will strictly adhere to the highest standards of ethics and
integrity in all its financial and procurement transactions to meet World Bank’s Policy
on Corruption and Fraudulent Practices.
4.5 Incentive structures
Staff and management of the centre will be entitled to compensation that is
consistent with the guidelines for University of Rwanda staff. The centre Leader, and
Deputy Centre Leader, may be entitled to responsibility allowances corresponding to
that of UR-CE Directors. Individuals appointed as full-time teaching/research staff of
the centre will be appropriately placed within the University’s salary structure
according to their qualifications (e.g. lecturer, associate professor etc). The
chairpersons for different sub-committees will be entitled to responsibility allowances
prescribed for heads of departments. These allowances w ill be paid by other sources of
funding (May be the University of Rwanda) other than the ACE II Project as per World Bank funding
guidelines

Regional partners will have incentives to work with the centre as it will have
equipment and staff to support additional projects as well as the students to
complete these projects. Additionally, students from regional partners would have
relative admission priority to meet target goal of 30 %( regional students). National
partners will have incentive to work with the centre by accessing trainings and use of
equipment.

25