MIFOTRA SPIU  further serves as repository of knowledge on lessons of experience accumulated in the course of implementing and closing the completed projects. The benefits to be derived from the established SPIUs include, among others:

1. Realization of economies of scale and reduction of transaction costs;

2. Improved coordination and creation of synergy;

3. Efficiency and effectiveness in project implementation oversight through improved M&E;

4. Improved staff retention, leading to reduction in staff turnover and increase in institutional memory;

5. Increased knowledge and expertise as well as best practices in project management.

6.  

The established MIFOTRA SPIU is responsible for designing and implementing all planned projects in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour and plays host to all project management phases (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control and closing).

MIFOTRA SPIU has currently two (2) projects: (1) The Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), and (2) Workplace Learning Policy.

WORKPLACE LEARNING POLICY

1.   Background

Workplace Learning presents an important way to improve quality and relevance of skills development. For the purpose of this policy, the term Workplace Learning (WPL) denotes all professional or occupational training and learning that takes place in a real workplace (and not in a training or higher education institution) and that is intentional. Workplace learning can be organized as apprenticeship training, industrial attachment or internship addressing mainly the training and learning needs of young new labour market entrants.

2. Vision and Mission

The vision of the Workplace Learning Policy is to unleash Rwanda’s potential of workplace training and learning through the development of modern apprenticeship training, and increased internship and attachment opportunities, in order to ensure that skills development for new labour market entrants responds to the needs of the labour market and assists an increasing number of Rwandan youth to find employment and participate in the country’s development.

The mission of the policy is to nurture and facilitate the development of workplace learning systems in Rwanda that are owned and driven by employers/industry, adequately respond to the skills needs of the growing Rwandan economy and provide an avenue towards formal qualifications recognized on the Rwandan National Qualifications Framework.

3.  Policy Objectives

Five broad policy objectives will be instrumental to achieve the overall vision:

1. To develop a modern, recognized and sustainable apprenticeship system in partnership with companies in the formal and informal sectors

2. To improve systems and management of attachment and internship programs

3. To develop an institutional framework for the coordinated promotion, facilitation and implementation of workplace learning with strong private sector influence

4. To create sustainable incentive structures for companies

5. To create knowledge and public awareness about workplace learning

4. Target Group of the Policy

This Workplace Learning Policy specifically addresses the training and learning needs of Rwandan students and labour market entrants, i.e. school leavers, young people undergoing TVET or higher education programs, and all other young people in need of training and workplace exposure to facilitate a smooth school-to-work transition. Skills upgrading of workers in industry, provided or organized by a company presents part of workplace learning. However, this sub-system is not directly addressed by this policy, but it will be indirectly benefitting from its implementation through better recognition of workplace learning, capacity development and the development of incentive structures

5.  WPL Information

• Name of leading institution: MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND LABOUR

• Institutions involved in this policy: Private Sector Federation (PSF)

• Association pour la Promotion de l'Education et de la Formation à l'Etranger (APEFE RWANDA)

• ENABEL Belgian Development Agency

• The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

• Workforce Development Authority (WDA)

• Higher Education Council (HEC))

• Ministry of Education (MINEDUC)

• Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM)

• Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)

• Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC)

• Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVET)

• Rwanda Polytechnic (RP)