The Inter University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is implementing a component for developing staff training programmes in ICT under the overall project of ‘Enhancing the Capacity of East African Universities to utilize ICT for Sustainable Regional Development’.

The Council of the member universities met during the three day workshop organized in Makerere University which started on 6th June 2011. It was attended by the various representatives from the various member universities among them being prominent personalities such as Prof. Mayunga H.H Nkunya, the Executive Secretary for IUCEA and Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the Vice Chancellor Makerere University, who hosted the workshop.

The three activities in the training programme will include; undertaking staff training needs assessment for ICT in member Universities, developing ICT training staff for academic staff based on the identified needs, and Piloting the training on selected staff of universities in East Africa.

Prof. Mayunga confirmed that “the component of undertaking a staff training needs assessment for ICT in member universities has been completed” and added that as per findings, two major categories of ICT training needs were already identified as: the basic and pedagogical ICT training.

Basic ICT training provides the foundation upon which advanced ICT use skills and training are built. He revealed that although the majority staff of IUCEA member universities have basic ICT skills, studies recommended the need for a deliberate effort in IUCEA member Universities to have a programme for continuous basic ICT training in this rapidly changing ICT industry.

The study also showed that basic ICT training was required in; introduction to ICTs and common operating systems, functional skills for ICT maintenance, office automation systems, and email and internet use.

Pedagogical training provides skills needed for university staff (academic and administrative) to effectively execute activities aimed at improving the learning and teaching process. Research shows that academic and administrative staff need training in ICTs so as to enhance the efficiency of their day to day work.

Academic staff need training in; E-learning/online learning pedagogy, E-learning management systems, E-content development, ICTs for effective research, effective content delivery, and personal website development and update methodology. On the other hand, university administrative staff need more training on the use of their respective universities’ existing Management Information Systems (MISs) and the systems vary in different Universities.

Article by Toko Paul, Intern, Public Relations Office, Makerere University

The Inter University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is implementing a component for developing staff training programmes in ICT under the overall project of ‘Enhancing the Capacity of East African Universities to utilize ICT for Sustainable Regional Development’.

The Council of the member universities met during the three day workshop organized in Makerere University which started on 6th June 2011. It was attended by the various representatives from the various member universities among them being prominent personalities such as Prof. Mayunga H.H Nkunya, the Executive Secretary for IUCEA and Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the Vice Chancellor Makerere University, who hosted the workshop.

The three activities in the training programme will include; undertaking staff training needs assessment for ICT in member Universities, developing ICT training staff for academic staff based on the identified needs, and Piloting the training on selected staff of universities in East Africa.

Prof. Mayunga confirmed that “the component of undertaking a staff training needs assessment for ICT in member universities has been completed” and added that as per findings, two major categories of ICT training needs were already identified as: the basic and pedagogical ICT training.

Basic ICT training provides the foundation upon which advanced ICT use skills and training are built. He revealed that although the majority staff of IUCEA member universities have basic ICT skills, studies recommended the need for a deliberate effort in IUCEA member Universities to have a programme for continuous basic ICT training in this rapidly changing ICT industry.

The study also showed that basic ICT training was required in; introduction to ICTs and common operating systems, functional skills for ICT maintenance, office automation systems, and email and internet use.

Pedagogical training provides skills needed for university staff (academic and administrative) to effectively execute activities aimed at improving the learning and teaching process. Research shows that academic and administrative staff need training in ICTs so as to enhance the efficiency of their day to day work.

Academic staff need training in; E-learning/online learning pedagogy, E-learning management systems, E-content development, ICTs for effective research, effective content delivery, and personal website development and update methodology. On the other hand, university administrative staff need more training on the use of their respective universities’ existing Management Information Systems (MISs) and the systems vary in different Universities.

Article by Toko Paul, Intern, Public Relations Office, Makerere University