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