General
The Chancellor’s speech on the 59th Graduation Ceremony
It is with great pleasure that I once again stand before you to preside over the 59th graduation ceremony as I celebrate one year as Chancellor of this great University. Let me take this opportunity to wish you a happy and prosperous 2009. This is a time when a lot of us make resolutions on what we would love to achieve and as a University we should resolve to do things that should take us to greater heights.
It is with great pleasure that I once again stand before you to preside over the 59th graduation ceremony as I celebrate one year as Chancellor of this great University. Let me take this opportunity to wish you a happy and prosperous 2009. This is a time when a lot of us make resolutions on what we would love to achieve and as a University we should resolve to do things that should take us to greater heights.
We must also take stock of our shortcomings in the past academic year and find solutions to the same.
At this point I would like to thank the University Council, the Vice Chancellor and his management team, members of staff, students’ government as well as our development partners and other stakeholders for the achievements over the last one year and for the immense support you have shown in my role as Chancellor. It is worth mentioning that the last academic year was characterized by relative tranquillity on campus. Therefore less was spent on conflict resolution and much time lent to productive activities.
The Graduands
To the graduands who have brought us here today, please accept my hearty congratulations on your achievements. Graduation day is a major milestone in the academic life of an individual. It is the culmination of many years of dedication to the search for knowledge and skills that prepare you for the long and hard struggles of your adult life. That is why you must be reminded that graduation is not an end itself but a springboard.
The benefits are many if you position yourself right to take advantage of life’s many opportunities. May each of you go on to achieve more in the life ahead as you leave the gates of Makerere University into the world out there.
A substantial number of students have performed very well and obtained first class honours degrees in various disciplines. This reflects positively on the teaching standards and I applaud the staff and students for the hard work. I cannot emphasize enough that we need to work extra hard and as coherently over the next year as any good team should to improve the standards at Makerere. That should be our single most important resolution for 2009.
In this connection I’m constrained to mention that I have received a lot of complaints about unduly delayed results. Consequently for no fault of theirs, there are students who will not graduate now. It is imperative that work by both students and staff is streamlined so that every event takes place predictably when it is due. Availability of transcripts is another issue that must be addressed. The rampant forging of transcripts must be stopped.
The parents
In the same breath, I thank the parents, guardians and sponsors for all the support they provided to the graduands throughout their studies at the university. Indeed for many parents raising the money to pay your children’s fees has been a nightmare. Your sacrifice to afford your children’s education cannot be over emphasized. The journey has not been smooth, with many obstacles and hardships along the way and we empathize with you. That is why we celebrate with you when we arrive at this milestone – the graduation of our children, spouses, brothers, and sisters among others.
Yes it is a great thing to see the fruit of your struggle since your children were conceived by their mothers. But I would like to share with you what I consider a significant omission on your part. I can compare you children’s education at Makerere University and other Institutions to a garden. When you plant seeds you have to make sure they grow well through weeding, may be application of fertilizers and other chemicals leading to good yield. I have noticed over the past that you parents pay little or no attention to what sort of product (education) your children get at Makerere University. First there is the academic achievement. But equally if not more important is the type of character these graduands develop while here. A banana plantation that is not attended to will give a very poor yield. So will other crops.
I would like to appeal to you to be more actively involved in the activities of this University. The law should provide for you to be members of Convocation, or any other organization through which you can influence policy and other aspects of a University.
………
At this juncture allow me to single out the one great achievement by our students. This concerns a group in the Faculty of Technology who under the leadership of Dr. Tagboa and a student named Ntambi. These students competed with and defeated the whole of Africa to participate in the development of a new modern car. Their contribution is in the design of the electrical system. As you all know the world is concerned about environmental destruction. This care will be fuel efficient (80km/liter) and therefore significantly reduce pollution. Aren’t you happy that some of your children are known all over the world working in collaboration with institutions like MIT, Harvard University and General Motors to mention but a few.
I want this team to stand up for recognition.
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Makerere University is participating in the New Vision Education Expo 2023 to strengthen its niche as the leading provider of education services.
The three-day New Vision Expo (Friday 27th January 2023 to Sunday 29th January 2023) at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) Nakawa brings on board players in the education and business fields to forge partnerships to improve the quality and outcomes of education in Uganda.
Makerere University seeks to maximally utilize the three days to ensure that the participants at the Education Expo gain a deeper understanding of its 100 year journey of providing excellent services to humanity through academic programmes, services offered and ongoing efforts aimed at producing employable graduates as well as entrepreneurs.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlights that Makerere University values stakeholder engagements and partnerships. “The New Vision Expo 2023 presents Makerere University with an opportunity to enhance stakeholder engagements. It is about consolidating the relationships with schools, prospective students and parents, and partners in the education sector. I applaud the CEO of Vision Group-Mr. Don Wanyama for coming up with the Education Expo.”
To respond to the information needs of stakeholders, Makerere University has lined up a team of experienced staff from the Department of the Academic Registrar, the Admissions Office, Public Relations Office, Career Guidance experts as well as the Institute of Open Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) under the College of Education and External Studies (CEES).
According to the Principal PRO of Makerere University Ms. Ritah Namisango, the Education Expo provides a platform to reach out to the clients that Makerere University exists to serve. “You must be in touch with your prospective parents, students as well as schools and partners that continue to recommend you as the leading university in the region. Makerere University has celebrated 100 years of excellent service to humanity (1922-2022). So, as we continue to promote the academic programmes, innovations and services that we offer, we are ready to listen, interact and learn from respective stakeholders about what they expect from the University as we embark on the next 100 years.”
The New Vision Expo 2023 is happening at an opportune (holiday) time, which accords the students, parents and guardians quality time to visit the exhibition and interact with experts in the education sector.
In addition, Makerere University has recently advertised its academic programmes and it is preparing to receive students for the Academic year 2023/2024. Sharing her experience about the interaction with participants who visited the Makerere University exhibition space, Ms Joyce Muhanguzi, Senior Assistant Registrar in the Department of the Academic Registrar noted that most of the prospective students and parents wanted to know about the academic programmes, the subject combinations that students should study to qualify to apply for the respective academic programmes, and the available admission avenues i.e. government sponsorship, private sponsorship, diploma entry, direct entry, national merit, talented sports entry and district quota programme).
Ms Joyce Muhanguzi and Mr. Dennis Kibuuka’s interaction focused on students who expressed their desire to join Makerere University in the coming years, and needed a case by case approach to their information needs, career guidance and linkages to Professors and Administrative staff in the respective Colleges at Makerere University.
The prospective students and parents also disclosed that in addition to the information on the Makerere University website, they welcome interactive and friendly approaches such as the New Vision Education Expo where they are presented with a golden opportunity to interact with Makerere University officials face-to-face.
At the New Vision Education Expo 2023, Makerere University joins other exhibitors that include; Government agencies, NGOs, Telecom companies, Banks, Insurance companies, Kindergartens/Daycare Centres, Primary and Secondary schools, Ugandan and Kenyan Universities, International schools, Study Abroad Agencies, Vocational institutions, Scholastic materials suppliers and SME service providers.
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