General
Makerere University Signs A USD 19m Contract Agreement With Unisplendour (UNIS) of Tsinghua University
Makerere University on February 11, 2016 officially signed a Contract Agreement with Unisplendour Software Systems Corporation Limited (UNIS) – a group of companies belonging to Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Makerere University was recommended by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports for this project with the aim of establishing an ICT-based education system in higher institutions of learning. The initial work of this Mak-UNIS Project will amount to approximately USD 19 million.
As beneficiaries of the Project, Makerere University will be able to improve its network connectivity to enable Colleges get reliable connections. The project will also introduce cloud storage infrastructure, multimedia recording and broadcasting stations for teaching use, wireless coverage systems, network devices, environment monitoring systems and electricity back-up systems. It will also improve server, storage and security systems, as well as integration.
The project will supply, install and commission UNIS Cloud System Matrix at a new Network Operations Centre (NOC) to be deployed at Makerere University. The Cloud System Matrix is an on-premise solution that provides Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and this will allow Makerere University to deploy a private cloud. The cloud will bring together a number of existing market-proven technologies into a platform that is deeply integrated from an engineering and service delivery perspective.
According to the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the Project will enable the University to restructure Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the institution. “The biggest challenge is streamlining ICT in all our activities. So I’m happy to note that we are having a partner who is going to assist to streamline ICT in our activities,” said Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu.
The Director of International Projects at UNIS group of companies, Mr. Zhang Suwen who represented the Vice President of the Company gave a description of UNIS group of companies and its relationship with Tsinghua University. “Tsinghua University is the top University in China. UNIS is a component of Tsinghua University that has the authority to undertake educational projects abroad and can secure government funds since it is a government company. It deals in cloud computing and storage, electronics and communication networks and virtually all products in the Information Technology sector.” Mr. Zhang Suwen said.
Mr. Andrew Gatera, the UNIS International Projects Coordinator clarified to the Management of Makerere University, that the USD 19 million will take care of all the items covered by the Contract and the secured funds shall be accessed through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as a government-to-government cooperation.
Giving a brief background on the Project, Dr. Edith Natukunda-Togboa, the Head of the Department of European and Oriental Languages, (DEOL) where Chinese is based said: “We had the pleasure to meet Mr. Andrew Gatera who interested Tsinghua University through its company UNIS, in working with Makerere University in Uganda after the experience of their project in Ghana University. We were lucky that he met our former Chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports at the time when UNIS was implementing the Ghana Project. Prof. Kagonyera was able to interest them in working with Makerere University.” Dr. Natukunda supplemented that the College of Humanities and Social Sciences had been very keen on following up the linkage and would benefit most from an ICT based education system to cater for big classes and distance learning.
On behalf of Makerere University, the Contract Agreement was signed by Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu the Vice Chancellor in presence of Mr. Augustine Tamale – University Bursar, Mr. Goddy Muhumuza – Acting Director Legal Affairs, Mr. Frank Kitumba – Director of Information, Communication and Technology Services and Dr. Edith Natukunda-Togboa – Head of DEOL. Mr. Zhang Suwen the Director International Projects UNIS signed on behalf of UNIS and Tsinghua University in the presence Mr. Andrew Gatera the International Projects Coordinator and Mr. Liang Shang of UNIS.
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.
“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.
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