General
Vet to improve National Diagnostic Capacity for Animal Disease Control
The Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , and the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Makerere University, have agreed to implement a national project in animal diseases control with Makerere University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (MAK-FVM) as a key government authority and central service provider.
The Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , and the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Makerere University, have agreed to implement a national project in animal diseases control with Makerere University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (MAK-FVM) as a key government authority and central service provider.
In a brief background to the project, The Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. John David Kabasa appreciated the support previously provided by JICA that witnessed the re-stocking of Buyana Stock Farm, eventually making it the largest producer of Boer goats in Uganda. He noted that during this second phase of support, a node will be established at the Faculty of Veterinary medicine as a secondary node to the one at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. He pledged that with this support, Makerere would use its students and staff to build capacity in Animal Disease control, specialized human resource and Laboratory facilities. Prof. Kabasa then thanked MAAIF and JICA for recognizing Makerere as a reputable choice, for developing this National Diagnostic Center.
Dr. Kauta Nicholas, Commissioner for Livestock Health and Entomology, MAAIF noted that as the National Veterinary Service is broken down into sections like Training Institutes and Researchers, the output of Makerere is unavoidably linked to the growth of Veterinary services in the country. Therefore, anybody who cared about the welfare of the service would ensure that the entry level component to this service (training) was superb, especially with improved laboratory capacity. As a representative of MAAIF, he recognized that this was very good area of engagement, because if Makerere was strengthened, her output was also automatically strengthened. He thanked the JICA representatives for their Government’s support and stressed MAAIF’s willingness to continue collaborating with institutions such as Makerere to get all the necessary support so as to ensure that the country moves ahead.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba assured the officials of Makerere’s commitment towards this project and support for all University-Government partnerships, noting that the University plans to have every unit partnered with a respective Government body by the end of May 2010. He foresaw that through such partnerships, the University would gain a lot from Government while contributing towards the Country’s socio-economic development. He thanked the Japanese government for this support and called on more Japanese Universities to partner with Ugandan Universities, as Nihon University; the largest private university in Japan, had already done with Makerere University.
The Chief Representative of the JICA Uganda Office, Mr. SEKI Tetsuo , expressed his most sincere and heartfelt gratitude in signing this Memorandum of Understanding at Makerere, a regional Center of Excellence. Phase one of JICA’s support started in 2007 and concluded in 2008 at a cost of USD $1million. Phase two will consist of JICA’s support to this comprehensive collaboration between Makerere and the Uganda Government through MAAIF, to a tune of USD $4.5million over a period of 3 years towards the establishment of A National Animal Disease Diagnostic Centre.
The parties then proceeded to sign and exchange copies of the Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony held on 25th January 2010.
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges Makerere University community to support the Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative
By Bernard Buteera
Makerere University has launched a two million dollar E-learning Project, dubbed The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative.
The launch was held on Tuesday 20th September 2022 at Makerere University, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium. It attracted over 200 participants, who included members of University Management, College Principals, School Deans, Academic and Administrative staff, students and the general university community.
While addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Prof. Mary Okwakol, the Executive Director of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), congratulated Makerere University for winning such a huge grant, which will go a long way in transforming the eLearning infrastructure at Makerere University.
“I am happy to be joining you in launching a project that is at the heart of National Council for Higher Education. Online learning is at the heart of the Council, not only because of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, but also the world is now a digital world.” Prof. Okwakol remarked.
Prof. Okwakol thanked Mastercard Foundation and other development partners who have continued to support initiatives that help transform higher institutions of learning in Uganda.
“I sincerely thank the Mastercard Foundation and other partners who have continued to support higher education in Uganda, especially in the area of research and online learning. Globally, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, greatly disrupted education systems forcing learners and some schools to shift to virtual learning to curb the spread of the pandemic.” Prof. Okwakol pointed out.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged the university community, especially the academic staff to take advantage of the Mastercard Foundation E-learning initiative to develop e-content across all Colleges of the University, to enhance capacity for eLearning at Makerere University.
”I appeal to the Colleges to embrace this project and have as many courses adopt this pedagogy development system, even though students will continue with face-to face and phyisical learning, they should be allowed the option of online learning. The platforms that are going to be built, will give our students an opportunity to interact with international students, scholars, teachers and with each other.” Prof. Nawangwe applealed.
The Vice Chancellor, further called upon all other development partners to emulate Mastercard Foundation in supporting Makerere University and other universities on the entire African continent in strengthening digital literacy, so that Africa is not left behind.
”In 2018 I attended a conference on E-learning in Beijing China, where a critical question was asked; Will Africa be left behind again? This was in reference to many advancements that were taking place in the western world, in which Africa had been left behind.” The Vice Chancellor reminded the audience.
Prof. Nawangwe further emphaised the importance of e-learning as one of the critical modes of teaching and learning in the 21st first century.
”Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot over emphasise the importance we attach to e-learning the 21st Century, that is why we took a decision to elevate the Department of Open and Distance Learning into an Institute of Open and Distance E-learning with an intention of having e-learning extended to other Colleges of the university.” Prof. Nawangwe pointed out.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, and Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the E-learning Initiative, Prof. Umar Kakumba, rallied the University community to support the implementation of the project in the University.
“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative could not have come in at a better time than post COVID19 era. A pandemic, which exposed our systems and methods of teaching and learning. You all recall, when were hit by the pandemic, with lockdowns and closures of institutions of learning, we all went into a panicky mode on how were going to cope with online learning. I therefore call upon every member of the university to give this project the support it deserves.
Prof. Kakumba reminded the audience the importance and relevancy of online learning at Makerere University and other universities in Uganda.
“The online method of learning is best suited for everyone. This digital revolution has led to remarkable changes in how the content is accessed, consumed, discussed, and shared. Office goers and stay home mothers can take up online educational courses too, at the time that suits them. Depending on their availability and comfort, many people choose to learn at weekends or evenings.” Prof. Kakumba remarked.
Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Coordinator of the Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative, informed the audience the importance of the project and the expected outcomes for the University.
“The Mastercard Foundation e- Learning Initiative is a Project funded by Mastercard Foundation aimed at addressing the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic that constrained access and continuity of teaching, learning, research and community engagement activities at Makerere University” Prof. Muyinda pointed out.
Prof. Muyinda further thanked the team that he worked with in putting up the proposal in a very short time that yielded such an important grant for the University.
“I thank the team that spent sleepless nights putting together the proposal that resulted into this project. I must report that Makerere University is privileged to be having the most highly qualified persons in online instruction design and online pedagogy at the IODeL and beyond. It is now up to Makerere University in particular and the Country in general to make use of these persons to transform the terrain of online, blended distance and e-learning education.” Prof. Muyinda remarked.
Prof. Justine Namaalwa, the Program Coordinator for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, informed the audience, that the E-learning initiative was one of the many partnerships between Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University geared at supporting the young people to succeed on the African continent.
“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program continues to recognize that in order to enable young people across Africa to succeed, there is need to; Address systemic barriers in Higher education, Strengthen the capacity of Institutions that serve the Young People, and Support innovative solutions across critical sectors.” Prof. Namaalwa remarked.
The colourful launch ended with a panel discussion in which panelists digested the importance and opportunities for open distance and eLearning in higher institutions of learning.
Bernard Buteera is the Communications Officer of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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