General
Rockefeller commends CoCIS on optimal use of funds
Having invested USD 300,000 in the then Faculty of Computing and Informatics Technology to help set up a National Software Incubation Centre (NSIC), the Rockefeller Foundation made a follow-up visit to Makerere University on 4th July, 2011.
Having invested USD 300,000 in the then Faculty of Computing and Informatics Technology to help set up a National Software Incubation Centre (NSIC), the Rockefeller Foundation made a follow-up visit to Makerere University on 4th July, 2011.
The delegation was led by the Foundation’s Vice President Dr. Heather Grady, who was accompanied by the Managing Director, Rockefeller Foundation Office based in Nairobi, James Nyoro and Betty Kibaara.
The 15month old project housed in the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)’s new state-of-the-art facility, had a major aim of addressing the shortage of proficient software developers in Uganda, and many achievements have been registered since its inception.
Increase in human resource capacity in the field of software engineering and development is one of the major achievements. Computing graduates are now able to acquire basic software development skills, thus making them competitive in the software development industry.
The country has also benefited from this project as the locally produced software is steadily encouraging investment in the ICT industry. This software has also proved to be equally as good as that brought in from outside Uganda and Africa at large. The Centre has also promoted global collaborations. Ms. Heather applauded the progress made by the NSIC so far, and the College for exploring ways of availing locals with developmental information through mobile phones, whose usage is on the increase in Africa.
Apart from the numerous objectives that the NSIC project has already achieved, there are still a number of prospects the continued partnership is yet to explore. The NCIS hopes to not only cover software development, but all the components of business incubation. This move will support the entrepreneurial process, hence helping to increase survival rates for innovative startup companies.
Furthermore, with the increasing effects of climate change leading to unstable weather patterns in the country, the college seeks to engage in studies and research on climatic change predictions. The Vice President persuaded the college to take on researches that will enable communities to cope with the effects of climate change.
The Principal CoCIS, Prof. Ikoja Odongo thanked the Rockefeller Foundation for the support and pledged the College’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with the foundation. “The College values the power of partnerships and over the past years; the grants received have been effectively used to serve the society” Prof. Ikoja remarked.
Article by Grace K. Magare, Intern, Public Relations Office, Makerere University
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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