An in-depth look at Akilah, the women’s leadership institute at Davis College.

By Karen Sherman, President, Akilah Institute

What do Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Sydney all have in common? They are examples of top universities with all-female colleges integrated or affiliated with coed institutions. Though Akilah’s origin story may differ from Barnard, Radcliffe, and The Women’s College at Sydney, the motivation behind its establishment was the same: a dearth of opportunities for women’s higher education in Africa.

Today, a decade after its founding, Akilah remains a progressive and nurturing environment within coed Davis College, a place where young female leaders can gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to transform their lives and, in turn, lift up their families, communities and societies.

How does a women’s institute function within a coed college? Apart from all-female classrooms, Akilah students are treated to the same rigorous academic experience as their Davis counterparts — a competency-based, market-relevant curriculum based on the following core pillars: 21st century skills, personalized learning, innovation, ethical leadership, and sustainability. Akilah students also maintain their own leadership guilds, clubs, and gender-focused programs.

A hallmark of Akilah is its culturally-relevant women’s leadership and entrepreneurship coursework. “Our leadership courses have students engaging in constant self-reflection for personal growth,” said Ariel Jagusztyn, Assistant Vice President of Academic Programs. “Our philosophy expressly emphasizes the ‘soft skills’ that are critical to building or leading a successful venture, such as innovation, initiative, confidence, communication, and tenacity.”

At both Davis and Akilah, interactive teaching methods are designed to promote critical thinking and active exploration. All students participate in a series of leadership courses to instill the skills and personal habits of community leaders. They learn the theory and practice of public speaking, goal-setting, character, decision-making, time management, and empathy. Above all, they learn to identify and strengthen their values and passions.

Young women graduate empowered to believe in both their innate potential and responsibility to become powerful ethical leaders and agents of change.

“There is plenty to say for an education that equips young women with not only academic knowledge for its own sake, but also an experience that combines professional, technical, ethical, and leadership skills,” said Dr. Jolly Mazimhaka, former Dean of Quality Assurance at the University of Rwanda. “These skills are ever more important given today’s global realities.”

Through Akilah’s entrepreneurship curriculum, students have multiple opportunities to practice and apply business theory and skills in the real world, with structured support to start their own small business, compete for funding and partnerships, and complete a business internship. Before graduation, students must develop a formal business plan and investor pitch, thereby fulfilling one of the most important requirements for obtaining start-up capital in Africa.

“Akilah’s Business Incubator Center helped us to develop our ideas and add layers of innovation to our business so customers are attracted to our products, “ said Germain Ukwishaka, a graduate of the business management and entrepreneurship (BME) program. Ukwishaka began making teaching aids for young learners based on her market research at the Center.

Beyond its coursework and curriculum, Akilah also forges strong regional and global connections through its scholars-in-residence and immersive executive leadership programs, guest lectures and speakers, and partnerships with other women’s institutes globally. Students have the opportunity to connect with and learn from female role models and mentors in Rwanda and across the globe, facilitating access to career and business opportunities in areas such as finance, agribusiness, technology, clean energy, and more.

Akilah further serves as an in-house resource to Davis College itself, providing guidance on its gender-equity approach, training faculty on how to promote gender-balanced classrooms, and supporting and evolving Davis’ gender-responsive curriculum and programs. UNESCO describes a gender-responsive curriculum as one that values and respects diversity, helps break down stereotypes, and challenges preconceived ideas and prejudices, with the ultimate goal of empowering women while uplifting men.

“Learning will remain out of reach, unless we prioritize quality, accessible education for all, starting with girls and young women. When young women and girls attain an education, they are unstoppable, and they bring their communities along,” writes Dr. Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi and Akilah’s honorary chancellor. “Akilah’s promise of female empowerment is an urgent need, not only for the future of my country, but for the future of Africa.”

Young women from Malawi and other East African nations who may be challenged due to a lack of skills, education, and economic opportunity are encouraged to enroll at Akilah, which serves as East Africa’s preeminent institute for women’s leadership and career development. The majority of Rwandan graduates are from rural areas and the first in their families to attend college. 86% secure employment within six months of graduation. Campus-based and online diploma programs in information systems and small business management and entrepreneurship provide affordable options to give female learners access to the global knowledge economy.

“Studying at Akilah opened my eyes,” said Chole Irambona, another BME graduate. “I was encouraged to look at the world as someone who can make a positive impact.”

Karen Sherman is the President of Akilah and the author of Brick by Brick: Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere, published in 2020.