Filephoto: ARU students in a campus tour at ARU

African Rural University (ARU), an all-women university dedicated to rural transformation, has welcomed new students for the 2026/2027 academic year, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their academic and personal development.

The new students have enrolled in ARU’s undergraduate programmes, the Bachelor of Rural Development (BRD) and the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture (BSSA).

Their first days at the university have been marked by orientation, exploration and engagement with the distinctive ARU education model.

As part of their orientation, the new students have been introduced to the university culture, toured the campus and visited the library. They are also being introduced to the different programmes and opportunities available to them as they begin their studies.

Among these is the ongoing Professors Without Borders programme, through which students are exploring how Artificial Intelligence can be leveraged responsibly, including in addressing challenges in agriculture.

For many of the new students, the experience has offered an early glimpse into what makes ARU different. The university’s eco-friendly campus and its practical, development-oriented approach to education have been among the features that have impressed the students.

A Different Way of Learning

At the heart of ARU’s education model is the Visionary Approach.

Rather than preparing students mainly to respond to existing problems, the approach encourages them to envision the future they want and work towards creating it. It places creativity and transformative action at the centre of learning.

This approach is reinforced through Competence-Based Education (CBE), which places emphasis on what students are able to do with what they learn.

Knowledge Comes from Many Places

One of the distinctive features of ARU is its recognition that valuable knowledge does not come only from conventional academic sources.

The university works with traditional wisdom specialists—indigenous elders and local knowledge holders who bring practical and culturally grounded knowledge into teaching, learning, innovation and community development.

This creates opportunities for students to learn from both academic knowledge and the experience accumulated within communities over generations.

Preparing Women for Rural Transformation

African Rural University (ARU) is a non-profit, values-based, all-women’s university located

in Kagadi District, Western Uganda. It is the only university in East Africa fully centered on

rural transformation, providing an educational model that equips women to become effective

change agents within African development contexts.

ARU trains women to return to rural communities as innovators and leaders, promoting development from within.

ARU’s educational model integrates 60% theoretical learning with 40% practical, field- based experience, including practicum, community internships and participatory action research projects.

ARU is part of a unique educational continuum that spans from primary school through

university. Students work within a Two-Generation Approach, engaging both children and

parents to develop and realize shared family and community visions

Some photos of new students