General
Prof. Nsibambi Praises Mak Library
Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, a former Chancellor of Makerere University and former Prime Minister of Uganda, has praised Makerere University Library for the modern facilities. Prof. Nsibambi was visiting the Main Library to fulfill a promise made. He was received by the Library Staff, led by Prof. Maria Musoke the University Librarian on 5th November 2014.
In his two-hour long visit, Prof. Nsibambi was taken through the old Library and new Library extension and was impressed by what he saw. He signed in the historical visitors book opened by Queen Elizabeth of England in the 1950s. “This is an excellent Library containing modern facilities,” he wrote. Another key writing in relation to the library that this writer was able to see in the book, are the words of President Yoweri Musevei who visited on 4th August 2012 and wrote, “Thanks so much for this initiative of expanding the Library on the basis of self reliance.”
Prof. Musoke explained to Prof. Nsibambi that the Library extension was built from internally generated funds and that the extension is so far the biggest achievement. This, she said, was done through sensitizing students to pay a development fee of 123,500/= to the cause, over a two-year period. Prof. Nsibambi was amazed at this achievement and shook the hand of a beaming Prof. Musoke and remarked, ‘urakoze cyane,’’ (a Kinyarwanda phrase for ‘thank you very much’). Prof. Musoke however noted that the development fee is still being paid by students but is yet to be redirected to improving the old library building as proposed.
Prof. Nsibambi was particularly amused by the vast online collection of books and journals, (including his latest book on ‘National Integration’), the musical archives, the research commons, the various provisions for people with disabilities and expectant mothers. “I am very happy because this is a modern Library and the best in the region. I am very impressed, thank you for the good work. I have been promising to come but she (Prof. Musoke) pinned me down and I had to come,” explained Prof. Nsibambi. He revealed that he has started penning his autobiography and is looking at the Main Library as a useful resource in accomplishing the task.
While at the undergraduate research common, Prof. Nisbambi asked the students if they had read his book on ‘National integration,’ but many had not. This prompted him to encourage them to find a copy of the same online.
As a send off, he was presented with an assortment of souvenir items from the Main Library including a key holder, a Main Library notebook and an online library catalogue.
Related Story:
H.E Ssekandi launches Prof. Nsibambi’s book on national integration
Story by Marion Alina.
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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