General
French Embassy Partners With Mak to Host International Debate on The Geopolitics of Kampala
The Embassy of France in Uganda and Makerere University have agreed to partner to host an International Debate on the Geopolitics of Kampala in the last quarter of 2018. This event derives its origin from the Geopolitics of Nantes; an annual event currently in its sixth year, organised by the French Think Tank – International Strategic Research Institute (IRIS) and hosted by French town of Nantes.
During a high level meeting held on Thursday, 3rd May 2018 in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, H.E Stéphanie Rivoal, the Ambassador of France to Uganda revealed that the two-day interactive and dynamic event in Kampala will create a platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas cutting across contemporary, local and international Geopolitics.
The Geopolitics of Kampala event will bring on board Makerere University Professors, researchers, staff, students, Ugandans and regional experts as well as researchers from France and Germany to engage in interactive debates.
“The event will provide a platform for researchers from France to interact and network with their counterparts in East Africa. The intellectual debate will include formal round tables, interactive and creative discussions in an open space where participants will present their ideas for discussion using the most convenient formats,” said the Ambassador.
With delight, H.E Stéphanie Rivoal proclaimed the choice of Makerere University to host the Geopolitics of Kampala event. “We will hold the event at the emblematic University of Makerere, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in sub-Saharan Africa, where many African leaders were trained.”
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe applauded H.E Stéphanie Rivoal for choosing to partner with Makerere University. “We thank you for honouring us to host this very important event. A university should be a centre of intellectual debates. Makerere University Management, Professors, researchers, staff, alumni and students are ready to participate in the Geopolitics of Kampala event and to engage international participants in numerous topics on worldwide geopolitics,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor nominated Dr. Eria Hisali to be the Makerere University focal person in the coordination of Geopolitics of Kampala event. Dr. Hisali who is also the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has a wealth of experience in coordination of international events and will reach out to Principals, Professors, researchers and students to come up with topics for the intellectual debate.
With humility, Dr. Hisali confirmed his readiness to serve and used the golden opportunity to pitch the idea of holding the International debate on Geopolitics of Kampala annually.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Nawangwe reiterated that the proposed Annual International Debate on Geopolitics will go further in cementing the relationship between Makerere University and France.
Other partners involved in the Geopolitics of Kampala Event include: The French Think Tank (IRIS), the German Adenauer Foundation, UN Women and the Alliance Francaise de Kampala.
Article by: Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office
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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