Understanding the extent and nature of academia-industry interactions in Rwanda

University-industry collaboration (UIC) is increasingly seen as an important driver of economic growth, but knowledge on its implementation mechanisms is still limited especially in developing countries. This constrains the capacity of those countries to design adequate policies and strategies to foster such interactions. This paper provides information about the extent to which academic staff from Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) in Rwanda interact with industry. It identifies the factors underlying their propensity to engage in interactions and the barriers or challenges faced. Data were collected from 334 academic staff permanently employed by 17 Higher Education Institutions in Rwanda. Results indicate a low level of interaction except in some informal channels arguably less inclined to foster relational learning and knowledge creation. Regression analyses indicated that the type of institution and the academic grades are significantly associated with the propensity of academic staff to interact with industry. In addition, four main barriers to interaction are identified and they are all linked to poor support from the government and the universities. Therefore, the study recommends the elaboration of explicit policies and strategies at country and institutional levels to set the stage for such indispensable interactions.