Kigali, Rwanda- Students, lecturers, researchers, and healthcare professionals from different universities across Africa say the East African Physiology Quiz and Teaching Workshop held in Rwanda from 08 May 2026 to 10 May 2026 helped them gain advanced knowledge, share experiences, and strengthen regional collaboration in medical education and research.
The three-day event took place at the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Remera Campus under the theme: “Advancing Physiology Education in East Africa.”
The workshop was organized by the East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS) in collaboration with the University of Rwanda. The event brought together students, lecturers, researchers, and health professionals from universities in Rwanda and across East Africa.
According to the organizers, the quiz competition was designed to assess the competencies of Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, and other health sciences students in Physiology, a discipline recognized as the foundation of medicine and the science of life.
Organizers said strengthening students’ understanding of physiological principles would contribute to preparing future healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for quality healthcare delivery.
The President of the East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS), Prof. Abdullateef Isiaka Alagbonsi, said the event combined academic competition with professional training for educators in order to improve physiology education in the region.
“We are happy to organize this quiz competition and teaching workshop aimed at helping teachers improve the way physiology is taught, because physiology is the foundation of medicine and health sciences. We believe that combining this workshop with the quiz competition will create an opportunity to build a stronger physiology education program in the East African region,” he said.
Prof. Alagbonsi added that Rwanda should be proud to host the first regional physiology-focused event of its kind.
“This event has given people an opportunity to know Rwanda. We have students from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and quiz masters from the United States. It has created an opportunity for students and faculty members from different countries to visit Rwanda,” he added.
Alongside the quiz competition, organizers also conducted a Teaching Workshop aimed at sensitizing medical educators on the importance of physiology education in improving healthcare practice across East Africa.
The workshop covered several important topics including Active Learning in Physiology Education, Competency-Based Physiology Curriculum, and the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Teaching and Assessment of Physiology.
Lecturers who attended the workshop said the sessions helped them improve their teaching methods and better understand modern technologies used in medical education.
Prof.Elias said“These workshops are helping us become better teachers and facilitators. We are moving away from teacher-centered learning and focusing more on putting students at the center of the learning process. We are also improving our knowledge of modern technologies used worldwide in training undergraduate and postgraduate students,” said one of the lecturers.
Students who participated in the event also highlighted the importance of networking and knowledge sharing with colleagues from different countries.
Nancy,student from Jomo Kenyatta University said “This event gave us an opportunity to meet and interact with students from different East African countries. We shared learning experiences, and it helped me discover new study methods. When I return to school, I will have a different mindset. I will no longer focus only on memorizing notes, but also on using what I learn to solve problems,” said one of the participants.
Participants further noted that beyond academics, the event gave them a chance to explore Rwanda, learn about its development, and experience its hospitality.
The event attracted participants from universities in Rwanda as well as other countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, further strengthening regional collaboration and scientific exchange in health sciences education.
The East African Physiology Quiz and Teaching Workshop concluded after three days of lectures, training sessions, and competitions aimed at promoting excellence in physiology education and research across East Africa.
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