General
Mak, St. Augustine Sign MoU to Strengthen Capacity Building in Human Resources
Makerere and St. Augustine International University (SAIU) on Tuesday, 30th October 2018 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening capacity building, especially in human resources. While Makerere has for decades been the region’s premier trainer of human resources in a wide range of disciplines, SAIU; established in 2011, has distinguished itself as a private not-for-profit institution that offers scholarships to bright, but economically disadvantaged students.
“Makerere is not only training students but also producing quality human resources for the entire education sector” remarked the Chairman Board of Trustees, SAIU, H.E King Caesar Augustus Mulenga. A philanthropist and 1996 Bachelor of Commerce graduate of Makerere University, H.E. Caesar Augustus Mulenga is also the Honorary Consul of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Uganda.
“As an employer, I often encounter challenges in finding PhD holders who are also well oriented with teaching. We therefore desire as part of this collaboration, to have staff of Makerere come over and help us develop quality programmes and good administration,” remarked the Chairman SAIU.
H.E. Mulenga further added that Makerere University’s contribution to training quality human resources is vital for the building good institutions in Uganda. “Good human resource is key and that is why one of the areas under this MoU is to strengthen capacity building in Human Resources,” he said.
As part of its institutional philanthropy SAIU offers fifty scholarships every year to bright but economically disadvantaged students to attain higher education. “Our strategy, by picking these students from the rural setting, is that once they graduate, they will go back to their own communities and help them. Due to the overwhelming need, we have also started scholarships at the diploma level and Medical Assistants who already hold Diplomas are being helped to upgrade so as to better serve the community” remarked H.E. Mulenga.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed H.E. King Caeser Augustus Mulenga and thanked him for officially visiting his alma mater, Makerere University.
“It is our strategy as Makerere University to help all other Universities grow because when they are strong, we are all stronger. We must also appreciate Your Excellency and St. Augustine International University for enabling bright but disadvantaged students to access higher education. It is very clear that you didn’t start the university to make money but to invest in our youth and we thank you for this very philanthropic gesture” remarked Prof. Nawangwe.
The Ruhinda North Member of Parliament and Chairperson, Finance, Planning and Administration Committee of Council-Hon. Thomas Tayeebwa who attended the signing ceremony thanked Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the University Management for collaborating with SAIU, noting that the only way for Makerere to remain the best and continue scaling to greater heights is by reaching out to help newer institutions.
“I commend H.E. King Mulenga for starting St. Augustine International University and reaching out to disadvantaged students but as an alumnus, I also call upon him to come and support his alma mater Makerere University. As alumni, we need to come back and give scholarships to bright but disadvantaged students and support the Makerere University Endowment Fund” remarked Hon. Tayeebwa.
Hon. Tayeebwa also stressed the need to overhaul the universities admission system, which presently, appears to favour students from well-to-do backgrounds, whose parents can afford to pay tuition at Higher Education Institutions. He proposed the district quota system and student loan schemes targeting the disadvantaged as possible solutions.
Prof. Nzarubara Gabriel is the Vice Chancellor of SAIU and long serving member of the medical fraternity. The specialist Surgeon with teaching and research interests in anatomy earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from Makerere and served the University from 1974 until his retirement in 2009. Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Nzarubara thanked Prof. Nawangwe for facilitating Makerere’s collaboration with SAIU.
“As a teacher, I always do my best to train my students to be good doctors because one day, they might be my doctor and it will be sad if I didn’t do my best with them. Makerere should therefore take great interest in the aspect of staff exchanges because one day, these students are going to treat us” added Prof. Nzarubara.
Contributing to the day’s discussion, the University Secretary, Mr. Charles Barugahare noted that research in health and training of health professionals attract a good percentage of donor funding to Makerere University. He therefore urged SAIU to write joint proposals with the College of Health Sciences (CHS) so as to attract more funding to the collaboration.
The University Secretary also informed the meeting that the University Council had passed a policy enabling Colleges to start the own endowment funds. He cited the School of Law and the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) as units that had already kicked off efforts to establish their own endowment funds.
The Principal CoBAMS, Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali who was present at the ceremony welcomed his college alumnus H.E. Mulenga and supplemented that CoBAMS’ Endowment Fund will, just like SAIU’s philanthropy provide scholarships to bright but disadvantaged students. He shared that the Fund would tentatively be launched in November 2018 and invited the Chairman SAIU to join efforts to give back to his College. In the same vein, he thanked Hon. Thomas Tayeebwa for having already contributed to efforts to kick-start the CoBAMS Endowment Fund.
The MoU signing ceremony was also attended by the University Bursar-Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha, the Principal College of Education and External Studies-Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi, Personal Assistant to the Vice Chancellor-Mr. Gordon Murangira, SAIU Director of Operations-Mr. Henry Mbonye and other officials from SAIU.
Leading the parties through the signing procedure, the Senior Legal Officer-Mr. Goddy Muhumuza noted that this was the second MoU to be signed between Makerere and SAIU. He said that the terms of the MoU included exchange of staff and students, sharing of laboratory services and harmonisation of admission procedures for joint admissions among others. The MoU also stipulates that any intellectual property developed as a result of the collaboration will be shared according to contributions made by either party.
The MoU was signed on behalf of Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and on behalf SAIU by the Chairman, Board of Trustees, H.E King Caesar Augustus Mulenga. Prof. Nzarubara Gabriel and Mr. Goddy Muhumuza signed as witnesses.
Article by Public Relations Office
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges Makerere University community to support the Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative
By Bernard Buteera
Makerere University has launched a two million dollar E-learning Project, dubbed The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative.
The launch was held on Tuesday 20th September 2022 at Makerere University, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium. It attracted over 200 participants, who included members of University Management, College Principals, School Deans, Academic and Administrative staff, students and the general university community.
While addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Prof. Mary Okwakol, the Executive Director of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), congratulated Makerere University for winning such a huge grant, which will go a long way in transforming the eLearning infrastructure at Makerere University.
“I am happy to be joining you in launching a project that is at the heart of National Council for Higher Education. Online learning is at the heart of the Council, not only because of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, but also the world is now a digital world.” Prof. Okwakol remarked.
Prof. Okwakol thanked Mastercard Foundation and other development partners who have continued to support initiatives that help transform higher institutions of learning in Uganda.
“I sincerely thank the Mastercard Foundation and other partners who have continued to support higher education in Uganda, especially in the area of research and online learning. Globally, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, greatly disrupted education systems forcing learners and some schools to shift to virtual learning to curb the spread of the pandemic.” Prof. Okwakol pointed out.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged the university community, especially the academic staff to take advantage of the Mastercard Foundation E-learning initiative to develop e-content across all Colleges of the University, to enhance capacity for eLearning at Makerere University.
”I appeal to the Colleges to embrace this project and have as many courses adopt this pedagogy development system, even though students will continue with face-to face and phyisical learning, they should be allowed the option of online learning. The platforms that are going to be built, will give our students an opportunity to interact with international students, scholars, teachers and with each other.” Prof. Nawangwe applealed.
The Vice Chancellor, further called upon all other development partners to emulate Mastercard Foundation in supporting Makerere University and other universities on the entire African continent in strengthening digital literacy, so that Africa is not left behind.
”In 2018 I attended a conference on E-learning in Beijing China, where a critical question was asked; Will Africa be left behind again? This was in reference to many advancements that were taking place in the western world, in which Africa had been left behind.” The Vice Chancellor reminded the audience.
Prof. Nawangwe further emphaised the importance of e-learning as one of the critical modes of teaching and learning in the 21st first century.
”Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot over emphasise the importance we attach to e-learning the 21st Century, that is why we took a decision to elevate the Department of Open and Distance Learning into an Institute of Open and Distance E-learning with an intention of having e-learning extended to other Colleges of the university.” Prof. Nawangwe pointed out.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, and Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the E-learning Initiative, Prof. Umar Kakumba, rallied the University community to support the implementation of the project in the University.
“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative could not have come in at a better time than post COVID19 era. A pandemic, which exposed our systems and methods of teaching and learning. You all recall, when were hit by the pandemic, with lockdowns and closures of institutions of learning, we all went into a panicky mode on how were going to cope with online learning. I therefore call upon every member of the university to give this project the support it deserves.
Prof. Kakumba reminded the audience the importance and relevancy of online learning at Makerere University and other universities in Uganda.
“The online method of learning is best suited for everyone. This digital revolution has led to remarkable changes in how the content is accessed, consumed, discussed, and shared. Office goers and stay home mothers can take up online educational courses too, at the time that suits them. Depending on their availability and comfort, many people choose to learn at weekends or evenings.” Prof. Kakumba remarked.
Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Coordinator of the Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative, informed the audience the importance of the project and the expected outcomes for the University.
“The Mastercard Foundation e- Learning Initiative is a Project funded by Mastercard Foundation aimed at addressing the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic that constrained access and continuity of teaching, learning, research and community engagement activities at Makerere University” Prof. Muyinda pointed out.
Prof. Muyinda further thanked the team that he worked with in putting up the proposal in a very short time that yielded such an important grant for the University.
“I thank the team that spent sleepless nights putting together the proposal that resulted into this project. I must report that Makerere University is privileged to be having the most highly qualified persons in online instruction design and online pedagogy at the IODeL and beyond. It is now up to Makerere University in particular and the Country in general to make use of these persons to transform the terrain of online, blended distance and e-learning education.” Prof. Muyinda remarked.
Prof. Justine Namaalwa, the Program Coordinator for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, informed the audience, that the E-learning initiative was one of the many partnerships between Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University geared at supporting the young people to succeed on the African continent.
“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program continues to recognize that in order to enable young people across Africa to succeed, there is need to; Address systemic barriers in Higher education, Strengthen the capacity of Institutions that serve the Young People, and Support innovative solutions across critical sectors.” Prof. Namaalwa remarked.
The colourful launch ended with a panel discussion in which panelists digested the importance and opportunities for open distance and eLearning in higher institutions of learning.
Bernard Buteera is the Communications Officer of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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