On Wednesday 23^rd July 2014, over 100 participants from Institutions in Africa convened in the Conference Hall at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University for the 5^th Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) Workshop plenary session and closing ceremony.

The 5^th CARTA Capacity Development Training workshop, which kicked off on Monday 21^st July 2014 at Makerere University (Mak), was aimed at supporting research and postgraduate programmes in African Universities.

Professor Mukadasi Buyinza, Director of Research and Graduate Training (RGT) at Makerere University, thanked the participants for their valuable contributions during the training sessions held on Monday 21^st July 2014 and Tuesday 22^nd July 2014 respectively and further encouraged them to remain with the same level of energy during the presentations lineup for day three.

The highlights for day three of the training workshop focused on recruitment and enrolment of postgraduate students, and Educational Technology in Universities/institutions.

During the training session focusing on recruitment and enrolment of postgraduate students, participants were divided into groups and tasked to develop a recruitment plan for postgraduate students.

 The guidelines for developing recruitment plans required participants to: consider the level of planning at Institutional, School and Individual levels; current context in which the university operates; develop a strategic aim, SMART goals and an action plan; and come up with a realistic budget.

Professor Buyinza chaired the group discussion during which the Makerere University team developed a plan for increasing the intake for postgraduate students. Presenting on behalf of the team, Mr. Tito Okumu from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), highlighted the following:

• The strategic aim is to increase recruitment and retention of quality postgraduate students by 2018.
• The SMART goals are to: increase postgraduate population by 15% by 2018; increase International postgraduate student popuation by 10% by 2018; increase recruitment of female students in science based programmes by 5%.
• The recruitment plan for postgraduate students is institutional in scope.
• The current context is premised on the 10 year Makerere University Strategic Plan which stipulates the need for Makerere University to be a research-driven university.
• The Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) is mandated to coordinate graduate training and research in the University in liaison with Departments, Schools and Committees, College Academic Boards and the University Senate.
• The Action plan focused on seeking approval from the institutional hierarchies; improving the learning and research facilities; communication to colleges; sensitization of key stakeholders on the need to increase postgraduate students; aggressive advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns, calling for applications, evaluation of applicants and admission; and continuous engagement sessions with the postgraduate students.

The aforementioned interactive group discussions set the pace for a captivating presentation on “Education Technology”, by Professor James R. Carey from University of California, USA.

Professor Carey who advised the University leadership, scholars and participants to embrace digital technology and the concept of hybrid and online instructions in academic institutions, equipped the participants from various African institutions with new knowledge on the management of online teaching and code named as ‘going digital in academia.’

Professor Carey added that the new idea “going digital in academia’ is related to education technology in the digital environment discovered to simplify education processes and ease the access of information.

Focusing on the global changes and the evolution of technology, Professor Carey stressed that technology is part and parcel of an individual’s life, and as such, could not be avoided.

 “The world is developing and technology is evolving, it is high time Africans adopted academic digitalization for a proper and modern research. Apparently many institutions in the North have adopted the idea and are benefiting,” he said.

To attain this, the Professor Carey introduced new e-learning software known as camtasia   to participants. This software encompasses the standard learning systems including Microsoft Word, Power point and Excel, a digital stream of recordings for audio and video plus a screen to enable a learning management system.

“You can manage a class room program, short courses, pedagogy curriculums and degree programs using digital education, and while using camtasia software, you are able to record a video, or audio for a lecture or even using the power point or a combination of all. This makes things easy because you can teach a class while you are far away from the institution. Through technological education, I have managed to teach classes in California while at the same time attending to the workshop here,” he remarked.

Giving his closing remarks, Professor Buyinza, Director, RGT at Makerere University said: “The CARTA Capacity Development Training Workshop for University Faculty and Administrators has been a rewarding engagement. It has been focused and topical, and I therefore call upon all the participants to implement the knowledge they have acquired in their home institutions. I am looking forward to more collaborations and synergies among the partner institutions.”

The CARTA Board Chairperson, Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun also emphasized the need for networking engagements among the participants to ensure the implementation of the knowledge obtained from the work shop.

On behalf of the participants, Dr. Justine Sikuku, Senior Lecturer, Moi University-Kenya, thanked the CARTA team, APHRC, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Makerere University for considering researchers and postgraduate students in African institutions for this educative workshop.

“We have really learnt a lot from this workshop. I hope that each one of us is going to implement the same skills gained from this workshop in our institutions. These memories of the warm welcome and hospitality Makerere University gave us since the first day of our arrival will always remain with us,” he remarked amidst applause.

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Article by:   Ritah Namisango and Prossy Nabatte, MAK Public Relations Office