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Uppsala studies Makerere-Bergen Institutional Collaboration as Partnership Broadens

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A delegation from Uppsala University led by the Vice Chancellor Professor Eva Akesson visited Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) to study the Mak-UiB Collaboration. The College Principal, Professor Edward K. Kirumira, and also the Coordinator of the Makerere-University of Bergen (Mak-UiB) Collaboration Programme welcomed the team and shared the humble and yet successful journey of the Mak-UiB collaboration based on an institutionalized approach.

This meeting held in the CHUSS Resource Centre was crucial for providing a framework for an institution-wide collaboration as Uppsala seeks to take its partnership with Makerere to the next level..

“We are glad to be here. We have several collaborations with Makerere, but we would like to go to another level-for an institutionalized approach,” said the Vice Chancellor, Uppsala University.

During the presentation, Professor Edward K. Kirumira emphasized the need to have champions in every collaboration.   The Mak-UiB collaboration started in 1988, but at an individual level and he thus credited the late Professor Endre Lillethun who dedicated time and resources to overseeing the collaboration during its infancy.  He highlighted that the Mak-UiB 15-year collaboration programme has significantly contributed to the development of human resources with 100 PhDs and Masters in Philosophy in varied fields; as well as expanding the collaboration to include administration, finance and libraries.

Continuing with his presentation, Professor Edward K. Kirumira pointed out factors that have led to a successful Mak-UIB collaboration as:
•    Establishment of collaboration offices at both universities
•    Multi-disciplinary approach to research problems
•    Multi-Department and Multi-disciplinary research with a diversified funding source
•    In 2004, the collaboration included an Addendum on student exchange programmes
•    Evaluation of the programme every four years and a re-commitment workshop within a long term Frame of Collaboration
•    Reaching out to regional institutions such as National University of Rwanda and training librarians and technicians in Juba.

On the future of the collaboration, Professor Kirumira said that although the 15 year programme ends in November 2013, he held discussions with the Rector of the University of Bergen, Norway, and they agreed on an extension to renew the collaboration.

“I have briefed the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu that the delegation from the University of Bergen, Norway will be coming to Makerere University next year to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for another phase of the institutional programme,” he remarked with a beaming smile.

The Vice Chancellor, Uppsala University, Professor Akesson thanked Professor Kirumira for an informative presentation. She shared that Uppsala University teaches 40 languages because it is a responsibility for the university to offer diversity. She expressed interest in a collaboration that would embrace teacher training and pedagogy.

Professor Kirumira explained that joint degree programmes (at the Masters and PhD levels) would help academic institutions to focus on pedagogical skills, which are crucial in the higher education sector.

The meeting noted that both institutions faced a challenge of attracting young academicians to undertake research in the collaboration a factor attributed to absence of clearly spelt out benefits for participants.

Professor Kirumira said that universities should re-visit their rewarding mechanisms for young academics.  He further observed that although collaborations are self financing, there should be an institutional framework in universities.

Observing that there could be other underlying factors, the academicians agreed to dedicate more time to understand the factors responsible for the failure to attract young academics to collaborations, envisaging a research paper on how to overcome this challenge as an end result.

“The young academicians should be active participants for they are the next generation of academicians,” concluded Prof. Kirumira.

 

Story By: Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office

 

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda. Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tufts University, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to submit abstracts for the National Symposium on:

Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda: Local Voices for Policy Impact

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Venue: Makerere University Main Hall

The symposium will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of climate-induced youth migration in Uganda, while advancing evidence-based and community-informed policy responses.

Theme: Climate-Induced Youth Migration and Urban Futures in Uganda: Evidence, Voices, and Pathways for Action

Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Submit Abstracts To: citiesofyouth@musph.ac.ug

Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to contribute research findings, case studies, policy analyses, and practice-based experiences. Abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations.

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University. Photo: Nano Banan 2

Makerere University, in partnership with Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Independent University of Bangladesh, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Pokhara University, with funding from Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED), is implementing a project: ‘Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in LDCs (COLOCAL).

The expected outputs of the project include strengthened educational and research capacity, improved knowledge on inclusive Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Community Based Adaptation (CBA) including delivering skilled knowledge co-creators, and partnerships to support needs-driven, locally-based and contextually sensitive adaptation. The outputs are anticipated to influence policy, planning and practice around LLA and CBA through collaborative learning and knowledge translation.

In line with targets and activities for 2026/2027, COLOCAL project is offering research support for three (3) Master’s students who have completed their first academic year of taught classes at Makerere University and are interested in undertaking research under one of the following thematic areas. The students MUST have undertaken the course offered under the auspices of the project on Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development.

Requirements:

  • A first degree from a reputable university in a field related to the focus of the project
  • Ugandan citizen below 35 years
  • Good command of English (spoken and written)
  • Demonstrated interest in inclusive and climate resilient development
  • Evidence of practical experience in conducting relevant research during and after undergraduate level
  • Evidence of full payment of all university fees for the first academic year
  • The Masters programme being undertaken MUST have explicit content on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Special consideration will be given to students with disabilities, financial challenges, students from ethnic minority groups, internally displaced students, among others

Scholarship and study/research conditions

Availability to complete all research activities in a maximum of 10 months.

Scope of the scholarship

The project will specifically cover stipends and support for field activities only. Support with tuition fees, for the research year, will be provided for students who will complete and submit the research thesis for examination within 10 months from the date of receiving the scholarship offer letter.

How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit the following documents: Application letter, research concept note of not more than 2 pages, academic transcripts/certificates, an updated CV (including contacts of at least two referees) and two recommendation letters.

Send applications via email to: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug, not later than 20th May, 2026. This contact can as well be used for inquiries, where necessary.

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Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert

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Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

The Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Limited implemented a Gates Foundation training program dubbed “Principle of Management Excellence for Research training” PRIMER in francophone countries, namely, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This training was delivered by content experts and experienced practitioners, not professionally trained experts. As such, limiting the quality of slide decks, which were largely fragmented with text rather than graphical and infographic elements that suit a mature audience. To effectively deliver a research training program, advanced, engaging, and efficient tools are critical for fostering audience engagement and participation, and for learning and assessment in research management excellence. To achieve this, IDI seeks to hire an expert to:

  1. design and deliver a set of integrated advanced slide decks combining text, visual learning materials (graphical and infographics) and case scenarios
  2. develop a virtual bilingual community learning platform (VBCLP), i.e. with in-built French and English to engage alumni,
  3. develop and automate a pre-course assessment system that potential trainees fill out, and it automates results that are presented in statistical form for easy interpretation and decision making.

Details: https://shorturl.at/Rzn8d

Apply to: EAkankwasa@idi.co.ug

Deadline: 5 June 2026, 5 PM EAT

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