General
Prof. Ali Mazrui launches Makerere Project
“May God Bless this Project and those who will sail through it in the future” These were the inspirational words Professor Ali.A. Mazrui used as he unveiled the foundation stone laid for the Makerere-Mazruiana Project that will help generate considerable resources to benefit the academia, boost research, business and technology innovations.
“May God Bless this Project and those who will sail through it in the future” These were the inspirational words Professor Ali.A. Mazrui used as he unveiled the foundation stone laid for the Makerere-Mazruiana Project that will help generate considerable resources to benefit the academia, boost research, business and technology innovations.
Professor Ali A. Mazrui was appointed lecturer at Makerere in 1963 and he became the first African Professor in Arts and Sciences in East Africa in 1965, he has over 22 publications, has written many pamphlets and booklets, monographs, has authored 33 books, attended various radio and T.V interviews and holds many awards and grants. However, Professor Ali. Mazrui still honors Makerere for granting him professorship that helped him shape his career. He paid his attribute to Makerere University Kampala’s main hall, which was a place where he learnt about speaking publicly on very important issues of the day.
The outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Livingstone Luboobi described the occasion as a great step forward for the academia, private and public sectors, which will participate hand in hand in the activities and mobilization of funds to support the project. Many alumni, friends and well-wishers of Makerere University Kampala turned up to see and listen to one of the top 100 intellectuals in the world, former lecturer and professor of Makerere University Kampala Ali.A. Mazrui speak. As many described him an intellectual, acting vice Chancellor Lillian Tibatemwa remembers him as a symbol and fountain of new ideas that used to draw crowds to public lectures, a fact that was confirmed by Uganda’s own Education Minister Hon. Namirembe Bitamazire, who admitted to sometimes missing her supper in order to be in time to attend Mazrui’s public lectures.
In his remarks, Professor Apollo Nsibambi, Uganda’s Prime Minister described Makerere University as an intellectual cradle for Ali.A. Mazrui. An African “throne” was presented to Professor Mazrui as a symbolic gesture of the Chair and Scholarship Endowment award bestowed upon him by the Chancellor of Makerere University Kampala, Professor Mondo Kagonyera.
Consisting of the Mazrui Chair and Scholarship Endowment and the Mazrui Center for Global studies the project is estimated to cost a sum of US$ 15 million, which is going to be mobilized by the alumni and friends of Makerere. Professor Mazrui proposed names of past and present African Presidents and statesmen totaling to 12 in number who will become patrons in support of the project. He also urged Makerere to catch up with the alumni to mobilize funds which he described as a major source of income.
Professor James Mulwana, Chairman, Private Sector pledged to garner support for Makerere both at home and abroad, “There are people out there who haven’t been approached about Makerere”, he said. On his part Al-Hajji Habib Kagimu pledged to give UShs50 million following his quote of a French saying “I may not agree with your opinion but I am willing to lay down my life to make sure that you express that opinion”. Makerere University Private Sector Forum on its part pledged to link up with Professor Mazrui’s networks especially foundations and development partners.
Through this project Makerere is expected to improve in its webometrics ranking since the project will provide role models to inspire and mentor current and future Makerere University. The Mazrui Chair and Scholarship award is expected to benefit students especially those pursuing postgraduate degrees. The Chancellor, Professor Kagonyera described postgraduate students as a high investment to the country, where they offer free labor and advice as they carry out research in fulfillment of their graduation requirements.
The project will strengthen partnership between the private and public sector and a Hall of Fame will be formed in the Centre for Global Studies which will be dedicated to all supporters and contributors of the Makerere-Mazruiana Project.
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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