Cognizant of the changing skyline of Makerere University, the Public Relations team interacted with the Planning and Development Department (PDD); the Unit coordinating the US$29.2million AfDB-HEST project, to get the latest details.

“The University Strategic Plan highlights the need to have in place centralised teaching facilities as a mechanism for management of large student numbers. It was against this background that the central facilities were prioritised in the AfDB-HEST support. Our aim is to ensure that students and staff across the University will benefit from central spaces,” said Dr. Florence Nakayiwa, Director-PDD, Makerere University.

Applauding AfDB for the grant that has enabled Makerere University to implement some of the strategies stipulated in the University Strategic Plan, Dr. Nakayiwa confirmed that the works that will significantly improve the university’s core functions are on schedule.

“We are on schedule to have the facilities commissioned in April 2017,” she said.

The Government through the African Development Bank secured a loan of US$100m to improve science and technology in Higher Education Institutions (AfDB-HEST programme). US$29.2m of this amount was allocated to Makerere University in respect of infrastructure rehabilitation, refurbishment of laboratories, merit based scholarships at PhD, Masters and Undergraduate level, and refresher courses for middle management staff.

Dr. Nakayiwa highlighted that the University Estates and Works Department has supervisory role over all civil works currently being undertaken.

Some of the facilities include:

Central Teaching Facility 1:
Central Facility 1 is the building next to the School of Social Sciences with construction works currently at roofing level. The facility is a four-storeyed building with; fully equipped lecture rooms, seminar/breakaway rooms, a lounge and a fully equipped e-learning laboratory.

Central Teaching Facility 2
Central teaching facility 2 occupies the plot next to the College of Business and Management Sciences-CoBAMs at the former UCB slab. This is a five-storeyed building that will house a state-of-the-art auditorium with a capacity of 1000 seats, flexible and dynamic lecture rooms for both medium and big classes, and seminar/breakaway rooms. The procurement process for equipment and furniture is in the final stages.  

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

“All facilities designated as centralised will be available for access and utilisation by the staff and students in the respective disciplines,” emphasized Dr. Nakayiwa.

Other Central Facilities include,

a)    The Diagnostic Laboratory hosted by the College of Natural Sciences-CoNAS. It is anticipated that all laboratory based units at the University will have access to this facility and its state-of-the-art equipment.

b)    The Biotechnology Laboratory based at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-CAES.  Equipment worth US$1million will be installed in this facility.

c)    The GIS Laboratory based at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology-CEDAT.  Equipment is being procured to upgrade the existing laboratory to a higher level. All Staff and Students in this field will have access to the facility.

d)    The Computer Laboratory based at the College of Computing and Information Sciences-CoCIS. 200 computers will be installed for use by the student community.

Other areas of focus supported by the AfDB-HEST:  

1)    Specialised laboratory rehabilitations. Existing Laboratories in the following colleges are being renovated and refurbished: Physiology Lab in the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Chemistry Laboratory based in the College of Natural Sciences-CoNAS,  Science Labs in College of Education and External Sditues (CEES), Materials and Hydraulics Lab in the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology-CEDAT

2)    For income generation and resource mobilisation, the University is setting up an incubation centre at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (MUARIK) targeting the Dairy Value Chain.  Rehabilitation works for the Centre are in final stages, and resources for operationalisation have been received.

3)    Scholarships– The support has enhanced staff development of 10 academic staff at the doctoral level (5Female, 5Male) and 12 Masters students in their final year of study for research (5Female, 7Male). Support will also be given to 31 bright but needy undergraduate students (8Female, 23Male). Additionally, middle level management staff have been nominated to participate in various short-term skills development courses.

4)    The School of Open and Distance Learning is spearheading the E-Learning activities. A number of staff have been trained to develop e-content. A total of 40 business courses have been fully developed and they are online. The courses are now ready, awaiting their launch to the University community and stakeholders.

5)    Bridging the Gap between the University and the Private Sector through Internships: This component is coordinated by Uganda Manufacturers Association. It is aimed at providing students with soft skills that can enable them transition into the work environment. In the first cohort, a total of 292 students from various Colleges in Makerere University were sent to UMA for placement. Of these, 164 (56 %) were placed in 83 companies and agencies in Uganda. 31 of these students were retained by the companies they were placed in.  A total of 480 students were trained in the second cohort and forwarded to UMA for placement.  195 (42%) of these had been placed as of September 2016.  Only final year students who have completed University education pending their graduation are eligible for this component.

6)    Gender, HIV AIDS & Special Needs: A number of activities have been identified under this category. Gender issues will be implemented under Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, Special needs under the Dean of Students, and HIV/Aids prevention under the University Health Services.

For any further inquiries and or comments, please contact Makerere University Planning and Development Department (PDD). Telephone:  +256 414 542 470 / +256 414 532699, Email: pdd[at]pdd.mak.ac.ug

Source: Mak Planning and Development Department, Mak Public Relations Office