General
PHEA funding to help Mak develop Educational Technology
In February 2008, Makerere University was one the seven universities in Africa invited by The Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (PHEA) to participate in the development and implementation of Educational Technology. PHEA is a joint project of Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation.
In February 2008, Makerere University was one the seven universities in Africa invited by The Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (PHEA) to participate in the development and implementation of Educational Technology. PHEA is a joint project of Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation.
The other universities invited were Kenyatta University , Kenya, University of Dar-es-Salaam , Tanzania, The Catholic University of Mozambique , University of Ibadan and University of Jos in Nigeria
This invitation was honoured and Makerere University was asked to develop an Educational Strategy and identify a number of priority areas which could be funded by the PHEA. The three projects that have been identified for funding are:
i) Makerere University E-Content Project (MUECP)
ii) Makerere University E-Portfolio Project (MUEPP)
iii) Makerere University Research Project under Department of Gender & Women Studies.
These 3 projects totaling US$ 450,000 have been finalized and are awaiting implementation. It was in line with this that Mr Neil Butcher, Open Educational Resources (OER) Africa Strategist, paid a courtesy call on the Ag. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba and the Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza. He was accompanied by Prof. Ann Floyd, Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, The Open University UK , Dr. Jessica Aguti, Director, Institute of Adult and Continuing Education (IACE) and Mr. Tito Okumu, E-learning Manager , IACE.
The two teams discussed the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and strategies for Implementation of the three projects.
Prof. Baryamureeba thanked Mr. Butcher for his visit and hoped that the three projects would foster the development of electronic content especially at a time when Makerere University is opening up upcountry campuses in Jinja and Fort Portal.
The three projects will be overseen by the Grants Implementation Committee, which is also overseeing several University projects.
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
-
General1 week agoCall for Applications: Admission to Postgraduate Programmes 2025/2026
-
General6 days agoAccommodation during the Recess Term: 2024/2025
-
Humanities & Social Sciences2 weeks agoOver 2,000 Attend Makerere’s Dialogue on Traditional Spirituality, Herbal Medicine, Witchcraft and Questions of Truth
-
General6 days agoMak Targets 30% Graduate Student Enrolment
-
General2 weeks agoPhase 1 of e-Learning initiative at Makerere University registers remarkable achievements