Burundi: Law Professor

Opportunities

A law professor is needed to teach at Light University in the capital city of Bujumbura, Burundi.

Qualifications

Applicants must be committed to the Christian faith, have a master’s degree, and have expertise and experience in the area of law.

Language Requirements

Although it is not required, a knowledge of French will be helpful on the field. French and Kirundi are the official languages of Burundi, while Swahili is also spoken along Lake Tanganyika and in Bujumbura.

Length of Service

• Mid-term: one to twelve months

• Long-term: two or more years. A professor is needed on a long-term basis, but a mid-term visiting lecturer will be accepted as well. For mid-term volunteers, Light University will arrange for housing.

Ministry Description

Light University opened in September 2000 and has grown to become Burundi’s second-largest university. More than 5,000 students attend the school’s three campuses, all of which are located in Bujumbura. Classes are taught in both English and French, and there are more than 120 staff members at the school. The university has schools of engineering, communications, law, computer science, clinical psychology, economics, international relations, political science, and health (which includes nursing and public health). Master’s programs are also offered in business administration, leadership, business law, development, gender and institutions, and public health.

Quick Facts

• Approximately 68 percent of Burundi’s population lives in poverty.
• Burundi is called the “Little Switzerland of  Africa” because of its beautiful mountains. The economy is predominantly agricultural with more than 90 percent of the population dependent on subsistence farming. Main agricultural products  include coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, bananas, sweet potatoes, manioc (tapioca), beef, milk, and hides. Coffee and tea account for 90 percent of  Burundi’s export earnings.
• Burundi’s literacy rate is 67.2 percent for those 15 years of age and older. The low rate is based on low school attendance as only one in two children attends school. Because of the low literacy rate, oral tradition is strong in Burundi as history and life lessons are told through storytelling, poetry, and song.