Research in Business Analytics

About Us

The Business Analytics Research Group (BARG) is led by Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana, a distinguished scholar and practitioner in data analytics and computational statistics. Dr. Gasana has authored and co-authored numerous publications in international, peer-reviewed journals.

BARG focuses on developing and applying advanced methods and tools to extract critical insights from large datasets, contributing to the region’s shift toward data-informed decision-making. Recognizing the growing demand from organizations for research, training, and consulting in descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, BARG was established by the College to help meet these needs. Special emphasis is placed on tools powered by machine learning and AI, particularly those applicable to Rwanda and the surrounding region.

The Business Analytics Research Group at Kepler College has three core missions:

1. Conduct business analytics research and develop AI-powered tools tailored for organizations in Rwanda and the surrounding region.

2. Deliver customized training programs to promote data-driven decision-making and AI-powered business services in Rwanda and neighboring areas.

3. Provide impactful consulting services aimed at transforming organizational productivity across the region.

Vision
The vision of the Business Analytics Research Group at Kepler College is to become one of the region’s premier providers of business analytics research, training, and consultancy services.

 

BARG’s  Current Projects 

1.  Active Research Projects 

  1. Method of  Collecting  Students’ Face-to-face Class Attendance Online using Face Detection; the Case of Kepler College (Dr. Patrick Niyishaka, Jean Paul Mbabazi, Vedaste Nyandwi & Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana, October 2024 – February 2025)

  2. Using Illumination-Reflectance Model & Machine Learning to detect conditions like Tuberculosis and COVID-19 (Dr. Patrick Niyishaka, Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana & Vedaste Nyandwi, since September 2024)

  3. Machine Learning Based Chatbot for Personalized Learning in Rwanda Higher Learning Education. Case study: Kepler College (Vedaste Nyandwi & Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana, October 2024 – April 2025)

  4. Machine Learning Based Chatbot for Personalized Learning in Rwanda Higher Learning Education. Case study: Kepler College (Vedaste Nyandwi & Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana, October 2024 – April 2025)

  5. AgriTech Futures: Empowering Youth and Scaling Sustainable Hydroponics (Joint project with UKC & AQS, Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana, since September 2024) 

  6. Bridging the Gender Information Divide: Centralizing Data on Gender Initiatives in Rwanda (Dr. Patrick Niyishaka, Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana, Christian Shema Nsenga, Irene Uwamariya, & Arcade Tuyisenge, since August 2024)

2. Sample publications

  1. Prince, R., Niu, Z., Khan, Z. Y., Emmanuel, M., & Patrick, N. (2024). COVID-19 detection from chest X-ray images using CLAHE-YCrCb, LBP, and machine learning algorithms. BMC bioinformatics, 25(1), 28.

  2. Vannucci, M., Niyishaka, P., Collins, T., Rodríguez-Luna, M. R., Mascagni, P., Hostettler, A., … & Perretta, S. (2024). Machine learning models to predict success of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty using total and excess weight loss percent achievement: a multicentre study. Surgical Endoscopy, 38(1), 229-239.

  3. Umunoza Gasana, E., Von Rosen, D., & Singull, M. (2023). An Edgeworth-type expansion for the distribution of a likelihood-based discriminant function. Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation, 93(17), 3185-3202.

  4. Umunoza Gasana, E., von Rosen, D., & Singull, M. (2022). Moments of the likelihood-based discriminant function. Communications in Statistics – Theory and Methods, 53(3), 1122-1134.

  5. Niyishaka, P., & Bhagvati, C. (2021). Image splicing detection technique based on Illumination-Reflectance model and LBP. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 80(2), 2161-2175.

Meet Our Team

> Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana – Research Lead in Business Analytics
> Dr. Patrick Niyishaka – Researcher
> Vedaste Nyandwi – Researcher
> Jean Paul Mbabazi – Researcher
> Christian Shema Nsenga – Researcher
> Irene Uwamariya – Researcher
> Clement Cyemezo – Researcher

Get Involved

BARG welcomes partnerships with individuals, NGOs, businesses, government institutions, and academic institutions.

Contact Us

For any information, please contact Dr. Emelyne Umunoza Gasana at emelyne.g@keplercollege.ac.rw /emygasana@gmail.com /+250788896323