In the afternoon of this 12th Sept. 2025, The University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB) concluded its successful Annual GREATER Project Summer School, capping off the program with a significant Global Goals Week event and the official launch of its Living Lab at Groupe Scolaire Byumba.
The combined events showcased UTAB and Partners’ commitment to hands-on education, community engagement, and advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Summer School which started from 8th to 12th Sept 2025, brought together students and lecturers from 4 Rwandan Universities (UTAB, INES, UR/CST and RP-Tumba College) and European Professors (University of Parma), the consortium working together under GRETAER Project. The participants in this GREATER Project 3rd Summer School learnt IoT-based methodologies for monitoring, managing, and optimizing renewable energy systems within the GREATER Project Living Labs.
The SUMMER SCHOOL program culminated in the Global Goals Week event. In this event participants showcased their commitment to responding decisively to the pressing global challenges (poverty, inequality, climate change) and advancing the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.
The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the new Living Lab at GS Byumba. This initiative extends UTAB and GREATER Project partners’ mission beyond the university campus but directly into the community. The Living Lab will provide a practical, real-world learning environment for students, lecturers and local community members to develop and test green technologies, such as smart renewable energy systems.
In addition, the deployed Living Lab (known as small-scale photovoltaic power station, in this context) will ensure reliable and sustainable energy access to the beneficiary school.
The living lab’s mission is consistent and fully support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals as it will ensure quality education, in sense that Living lab seen as learning tool, powering the beneficiary school, respond to the issue of Affordable, clean energy and climate action and living lab serving as community empowerment initiative is directly linked to Gender Equity and Decent work and Economic Growth, etc.
Mayor of GICUMBI District, NZABONIMPA Emmanuel
In this event, the Guest of Honor (Mayor of Gicumbi District) thanked UTAB and partners in GREATER project and calls for continued efforts to co-design solutions that create lasting impact in communities, as the Living Lab has already demonstrated measurable impact to the direct beneficiary school (the already witnessed reduction in electricity bill within few months).