General
Makerere-East China Normal University sign MoU
Makerere University and the East China Normal University (ECNU) yesterday, 22nd February 2010 signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation aimed at strengthening the cooperation in education, science, engineering and technological transfer between the two universities.
Makerere University and the East China Normal University (ECNU) yesterday, 22nd February 2010 signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation aimed at strengthening the cooperation in education, science, engineering and technological transfer between the two universities.
Prior to the signing ceremony, Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, Principal, College of Health Sciences chaired a session, where the two parties both made presentations profiling their respective universities with Dr. William Bazeyo, Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health (MUSPH) and Prof. Lizhong Yu, President, East China Normal University (ECNU) presenting on behalf of Makerere University and ECNU correspondingly.
In his presentation, Dr. Bazeyo thanked the ECNU team for their hospitality and keenness to work with Makerere University. After giving a brief background of the institution, he informed the team of Makerere’s ardent plan to transform into a new era through Academic and Financial reforms; Infrastructural development; Reaching out to the communities; Gender Mainstreaming and Strategic planning.
Prof. Lizhong Yu, who presented on behalf of ECNU outlined the University’s constitution of 19 Colleges and 44 Departments offering 122 Doctoral Programs, 178 Masters Programs and 65 Undergraduate Programs. He also shared that ECNU is home to 13 national or key research bases and houses over 100 research institutes and research centers. With regard to development strategies, ECNU takes the 3 I’s approach of Innovation, Interdisciplinary study and Internationalization, with the latter responsible for over 2000 foreign scholars visiting ECNU each year, for joint research, lecturing and other exchange programs. In concluding his presentation, Prof. Yu encouraged Makerere to join its community of overseas campuses and teaching centers like the New York University Shanghai Center, University of Virgina Center in Shanghai and the EM Lyon Shanghai Campus.
Representing the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Sun Heping expressed his pleasure at witnessing the signing of the MoU between Makerere and ECNU, especially as both institutions are well known in their respective countries and the world over and have the direct auspices of each government. Taking into consideration previous years of fruitful cooperation at both governmental and people-to-people level, the Ambassador said “I am confident that the excellent relationship and cooperation between China and Uganda will continue to be further consolidated and developed” as he concluded his speech .
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, Ag. Vice Chancellor Makerere University thanked the President ECNU and his team for honoring his invitation and visiting Makerere University to sign the landmark MoU. He thanked Dr. Bazeyo for successfully coordinating the team’s visit as well as following up on the progress of events. He thanked the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, whose initial donation of Computers and Accessories saw the former Institute of Computer Science grow into the largest Faculty of Computing in East and Central Africa. He therefore hoped that this new collaboration would lead to opening of a new gateway for Makerere in China and for ECNU in Uganda and the rest of Africa.
The ECNU delegation also consisted of Professor XU Jianguo, First Secretary, Chinese Embassy, Kampala; Professor Youqun Ren, Vice President, East China Normal University; Assoc. Prof Like Wang, Associate Professor, International Centre for Teacher Education, East China Normal University; Professor Zhang Jing, Academician of China Academy of Sciences, Professor, State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University; Professor Nanzhao Zhou, President-APNIEVE, Director, International Centre of Teacher Education, East China Normal University and Professor Zhiting Zhu, Professor, Dean, Distance Education College, East China Normal University
Click here for Dr. Bazeyo's full presentation
Click here for Prof. Lizhong Yu's full presentation
Click here for Ambassador Sun Heping's full speech
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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