General
Using Applied Research to Inspire the Next Generation of Engineers
“At the University of Navarra (UNAV), all research undertaken has got to be marketable,” said Prof. Roc Berenguer a Professor of Electronic Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation (TECNUN), UNAV, as presented his lecture.
“At the University of Navarra (UNAV), all research undertaken has got to be marketable,” said Prof. Roc Berenguer a Professor of Electronic Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation (TECNUN), UNAV, as presented his lecture.
“This helps to guarantee funding for all the applied research we conduct,” he added. Prof. Berenguer was speaking at a public lecture, facilitated by a grant from the Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) which enabled the Community Wireless Resource Centre (CWRC) to host him for a week. During weeklong stay, he provided a 3-day specialized training for Masters Students and Staff on the wireless communications test bed equipment. At the conclusion of the training, he held a public lecture to address the topic 'Establishing a Wireless Communication Testbed' on Wednesday 7th December 2011. MSI is managed by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST).
The lecture highlighted various applications of wireless communications including mobile phones, automatic braking of cars using wireless sensors to detect objects upfront, support for the blind via glasses with a wirelessly connected camera to the 'retina', remote monitoring of tire temperatures for electric cars, etc. At UNAV, businesses and other entities can encounter an ideal partner in the development of their research projects and are thus willing to fund such innovations.
The lecture series is one of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's avenues to inspire undergraduate and postgraduate students to carry out research that seeks to address the specialized needs of the business community, among other initiatives.
Reacting to the public lecture, Dr. Dorothy Okello, Director CWRC and Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering challenged the students to become well grounded in the theory so as to be well placed to identify solutions for the various problems in our communities.
“Based on the theory gained in class and results from simulations you conduct, only then can you be able to take your wireless innovations to the next level,” remarked Dr. Okello.
Dr. Okello is also the Principal Investigator of the MSI-funded project "Adaptive Bandwidth Management in Cooperative Wireless Networks: Affordable and equitable access to the Internet". The three year grant worth US$ 250,000 ends this December 2011.
Thanks to the MSI grant, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has recently acquired a modern set of key equipment worth US$ 80,000 which includes; a spectrum analyzer, vector network analyzer and signal generators. As a result students will now be able to confirm the specifications and performance of their innovations before attempting to implement them.
The grant has also supported the costs of tuition and stipends for four Masters in Electrical Engineering students, with the first scheduled to graduate in January 2012. Two of the Masters students were also supported to spend 6-8 weeks at advanced research labs at the University of Pretoria and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Meraka Institute, South Africa.
In his remarks, Dr. Julius Butime, Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, thanked Prof. Berenguer for conducting the specialized training and public lecture.
“Now that we have this specialized equipment, I encourage you, the students of engineering, to join research groups such as those headed by Prof. Berenguer to help improve your skills and boost your research profiles,” he remarked.
The Department is planning hold the public lecture series more regularly, beginning next semester in January 2012, where speakers from leading national and international engineering departments will be invited. This public lecture was attended by over 130 participants, who included undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as academic staff.
The CWRC aims to enhance the practical skills of engineering students. As such, over the three year grant period, ten undergraduate students have had their industrial training with the CWRC from June to August each year. The training has exposed them to theory and practices of wireless networks with a focus on the telecentre-based community wireless networks.
Related Article
CWRC Public Lecture by Dr. Roc. Berenguer
mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office
Makerere University on 23rd January 2026 hosted the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) validation meeting of the draft minimum standards for implementing Competence-Based Education (CBE) in Higher Education Institutions. The meeting held in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium brought together Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Principals and Academic Registrars from Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.
Hosted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, the meeting followed institutional input into the draft minimum standards and was aimed at validating them prior to their formal adoption by the NCHE Council at their next meeting in February 2026. The minimum standards cover nine areas namely; 1) Curriculum Design, 2) Teaching and Learning Approaches, 3) Assessment, 4) Faculty Training and Support, 5) Student Support Services, 6) Quality Assurance Systems, 7) Industry and Community Linkages, 8) Monitoring and Evaluation, and 9) Gender and Equity Mainstreaming.
Following feedback into presentations by the various leaders present, a motion to adopt the draft minimum standards, with institutional input incorporated, was moved by Bugema University, seconded by UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and unanimously supported by institutions present.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Prof. Sarah Ssali appreciated NCHE for choosing Makerere to host the landmark event, reiterating that the University greatly respects each and every Higher Education Institution and regards them as partners and collaborators in the quest to improve Uganda’s Higher Education sector.
The Executive Director NCHE, Prof. Mary Okwakol reassured leaders present that all the pertinent issues raised for input into the draft minimum standards would be incorporated, and urged those with pressing issues to submit them before month’s end. She reiterated NCHE’s readiness to continue lobbying Government for the resources required by Higher Education Institutions, particularly Public Universities, to implement Competence-Based Education (CBE).
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