General
Mak Signs Agreement to Fast Track Collaboration With Taiwanese Institutions
Makerere University has today Friday 13th October 2017 signed an agreement with Dr. Jeff J.L. Lin and his wife Mrs. Mei Yvan, aimed at creating a formal avenue through which Taiwanese institutions can collaborate with Makerere and other Ugandan institutions in aspects such as exchange of staff, students, research, among others.
Speaking at the brief event held at the Directorate of Legal Affairs (DLA), Makerere University, the Acting Director Mr. Goddy Muhumuza thanked Dr. Lin and his wife Mei for their hospitality, love and heart of giving in not only identifying but also choosing to bridge the gap of cooperation between Taiwan and Uganda.
Today’s agreement signing ceremony had its genesis in the 29th Summer Universiade “Collegiate Olympics” held in Taipei, Taiwan from 19th to 30th August 2017, where Mr. Muhumuza and the delegation from Uganda had the opportunity to interact with the couple. “Dr. Jeff J. L. Lin and his wife Mei Yvan mobilized the Taiwan-Africa Business Association and hosted the Uganda Team to a very colourful lunch where a delicious meal was served. At the same function, Dr. Lin and his wife Mei announced a gift of a motorcycle to each of the Ugandan Gold and Bronze medal winners” shared Mr. Muhumuza.
The couple later on also agreed to donate a motorcycle worth approximately UGX 4million to the Directorate of Legal Affairs.
In his remarks, Dr. Jeff J.L. Lin; a holder of dual citizenship from Taiwan and Uganda, thanked Mr. Muhumuza for arranging the visit and preparing the agreement. He also congratulated Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe upon his election as Vice Chancellor and thanked him as well as members of Management present for attending the signing ceremony despite their respective busy schedules.
“Taiwan is strong in disciplines of Medicine, Agriculture, Biotechnology and Technology but does not have a good social sciences background. Makerere is strong in the Humanities and Law and we therefore want to introduce Makerere to National Taiwan University and Tsing Hua University which are both highly ranked globally. Our hope is that young students and academics will benefit from this partnership,” said Dr. Lin.
Mrs. Mei Yvan on her part has spent twenty five years living and working in Africa. “Sixteen years ago, I was volunteering as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Music, Dance and Drama. Also, both our sons were born in Africa so Africa is home to us,” she shared. “Although we are business people, we also value social responsibility. Dr. Lin’s passion has always been to bring goodness and joy to people” she added.
Following a brief signing ceremony, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked Dr. Lin and his wife Mei for their good spirit of benevolence and for their donation of a brand new motorcycle to DLA. This, he noted, would greatly aid the Directorate in its daily operations.
“We have a lot to learn from each other” said Prof. Nawangwe, “Taiwan is an island that has moved from an underdeveloped nation to an economic superpower in the last fifty years” he elaborated.
The Vice Chancellor further observed that Taiwanese Universities are ranked highly by global rankings and are a source of modern technology that has accelerated growth and development of other sectors like agriculture in the island nation. Taiwan has been able to grow enough food to feed its population and export the surplus. He noted that Uganda has a high population growth rate and unless this was checked or matched with surplus production, food security would be a big problem in the face of the impacts of climate change such as prolonged drought.
“Collaboration with Taiwanese Universities is therefore the best thing that can happen to Makerere, not only in the fields of Law and Humanities but also other vital areas such as Agriculture and Medicine. As Makerere University, we will do all that is possible to ensure that this collaboration happens” said Prof. Nawangwe.
He also expressed happiness that in Dr. Lin, Makerere had found a direct link and advocate who is familiar with both Ugandan and Taiwanese cultures, “exchange of cultures is very important” added the Vice Chancellor. He concluded his remarks by thanking Mr. Muhumuza for ensuring that the collaboration had taken off. “We look forward to an extensive collaboration between Makerere and Taiwanese Universities.“
The signing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang, Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences-Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali who represented the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration)-Prof. William Bazeyo, University Secretary-Mr. Charles Barugahare, Acting Director Human Resources-Mrs. Dorothy Senoga Zake and Acting Director Internal Audit-Mr. Patrick Akonyet. Also present were Mr. Peter Mubiru who represented the University Bursar-Mr. Augustine Tamale and DLA Staff.
Article by Public Relations Office
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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