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Mak-UZH symposium tackles One-health from different perspectives

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Makerere University and the University of Zurich (UZH) held a two-day health-focused symposium aimed at strengthening the existing collaborations and paving way for new research partnerships.

The symposium which ran from 7th to 8th July 2014 brought together faculty, research teams and scholars from the University of Zurich, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) to share ideas and knowledge premised on the theme, One health from different perspectives.

The symposium was held in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Makerere and the University of Zurich in 2008, as a foundation for the North-South cooperation, which promotes exchange of knowledge and mutual intercultural learning through supporting sustainably well-conceived research projects, teaching and institutional capacity development.

Opening the symposium on 7th July 2014, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang reported that, as a result of MAK-UZH partnership, there are a number of active collaborations between both institutions.  These include partnership with: The College of Health Sciences/Infectious Diseases Institute; the SOUTH study that is currently implemented in partnership with the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI); Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB); and the School of Languages, Literature and Communication and Department of Philosophy both under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).

“Convening here today represents a great commitment from both institutions, and I would like to urge the two partners to maintain their mutual collaboration, for the future academic excellence,” remarked Dr. Okello Ogwang, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Makerere University. He also encouraged the participants to use the symposium to explore and facilitate new research collaborations.

Recounting the formative stages of the partnership, the Principal College of Health Sciences Professor Nelson Sewankambo, then Dean, Faculty of Medicine, expressed his pleasure at having been part of the team that visited UZH, and successfully negotiated the terms that culminated into the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding in 2008. “I am therefore delighted to be part of this health-focused symposium today, as both institutions seek to strengthen the existing collaboration, and dialogue on the possibility of widening the partnership to encompass other academic disciplines,” he remarked.

Professor Sewakambo, also re-echoed to all partners and participants attending the symposium in the Makerere University Main Hall the need to uphold the clause on mutually beneficial engagements as this collaboration continues to grow.

Dr. Daniel Wyler, Vice President, University of Zurich (UZH) appreciated the partnership with Makerere University and reiterated, UZH’s support to research backed by the mutually beneficial activities as sealed by the MoU.

“I am really sure that this time, taking part in health issues affecting humans like the infectious disease is more important. Therefore I would like to encourage all researchers in both universities to engage in different research on both the environment and humans in a bid to reduce the rate transmission of infectious diseases in our countries,” he said.

The Executive Director, Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), CHS, Makerere University Dr. Alex Coutinho highlighted that the symposium offered a great learning platform to science researchers in all health disciplines and expressed his belief that after the two days, participants and delegates alike would have acquired more knowledge.

Giving the day’s keynote address, Professor John David Kabasa, the Principal, CoVAB emphasized that the term health refers to the total wellbeing of the individual and appealed to participants to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach to research and problems affecting humanity and society in general. With reference to Makerere’s ten year strategic plan, which stipulates the need for the University to reposition herself to meet emerging development challenges, Professor Kabasa encouraged academicians, scholars and participants in the symposium to embrace the paradigm shift from the ivory tower mentality to one of knowledge transfer partnerships with the community. He further encouraged the audience to align their collaborative activities in, teaching and learning, research and innovations to those of a development-focused university.

The audience which had for the entire duration of morning sessions been captivated by the well-researched presentations on ideology, cause and implications of infectious diseases then had the chance to engage the panelists in a lively academic debate. Professor John David Kabasa, Prof. Dr. Paul Torgeson, Head of Epidemiology at the Vetsuisse Faculty, UZH and Dr. Taurai Tasara, Head of the Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, UZH made up the panel that took on a broad range of questions from the eager audience.

The 7th July 2014 symposium programme climaxed with site visits to the Makerere University College of Health Sciencess, the Infectious Diseases Institute, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity.  The afternoon site visits, were aimed at sharing discipline-specific knowledge cognizant of the expectations of respective units.

At the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Dr. Clovice Kankya guided the participants on a tour of the teaching and research facilities such as the Small Animal Clinic, One-Health residency office, Avian Influenza laboratory among other facilities.

Article by:   Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office

Mark Wamai

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Special Exam Results -Diploma in Performing Arts 2025/26

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The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.

Mak Editor

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Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

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Directorate of Graduate Training Completes Training of First Cohort Training of Supervisors

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By Moses Lutaaya

The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.

Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.

In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”

He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.

“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.

Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training

“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.

“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”

With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.

He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”

He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.” 

Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”

She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”

Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”

“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”

Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”

“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.

The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.

Mak Editor

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