General
Mak support staff trained in customer care, sustainable investment and retirement planning
On 25th October 2018, the National Union of Educational Institutions of Uganda (NUEI)-Makerere University Branch with support of the University Management organized a workshop to train Makerere University Support Staff on improving customer care services. Officially opened by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the one-day workshop introduced participants to sustainable investment ideas and viable procedures of planning for their retirement.
The Vice Chancellor thanked Makerere University Support Staff for serving the University diligently. He urged staff to have a positive attitude towards their jobs and encouraged them to handle university customers with respect and care. “Students are our number one customers; we should therefore handle them with respect. Next on the list are the parents, visitors, collaborators among others,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe encouraged staff to market and promote Makerere University’s achievements when he said, “Makerere University belongs to all of us. We are the University, we must therefore protect its reputation and image. What we do will either lift its name or tarnish it.”
The Director of Human Resources, Mr. Andrew Abuyang appealed to staff to perform their duties with commitment and humility. “We should be proud of the organization that we are working with, be able to defend it. Most of us derive our livelihoods from here,” he explained.
The Chairperson of the National Union of Educational Institutions of Uganda (NUEI)-Makerere University Branch Mr. Twesigye Bruce emphasized the need to promote and recognize outstanding workers. According to him, this will increase productivity and efficiency among staff.
The well attended workshop, kicked off with a presentation from Hajati Sharifa Buzeki, Commissioner of Human Resource Management, Ministry of Public Service on proper customer care services. According to Hajati Buzeki, customer care is a vital element of institution- client relationship and can strongly impact the operations of the institution and its image. It consists of a collective set of policies that govern how the institution and its employees interact with its customers.
Therefore, to win the hearts of customers, she urged support staff to serve the clients with a positive attitude and humility. She also advised them to have respect to customers’ interests, use need technical support and knowledge to enhance the level of customer satisfaction.
“For Institutions like Makerere University to thrive, we should improve on how we handle clients. The Principle of Customer care states that; ‘do to the people what you want to be done to you’. We should therefore deliver well to the people’s expectations. At its core, quality customer service is about making sure our customers feel they are valued, treated fairly and appreciated,” she said.
Taking participants through the viable procedures of planning for their retirement, Mr. Joseph Njuguna, Manager for Scheme Operations at Octagon Uganda Limited said that retirees can easily lose all their benefits from late life experimental investments and can suffer personal life mishaps if they do not plan well for their retirement.
According to Mr. Njuguna, workers tend to perceive retirement more as a distant phenomenon. For many workers, retirement comes as a shock that is hard to contain.
“We need to have a solid plan for our desired lifestyle after retirement. We should make a financial plan, engage our legal officers, think of an income that will sustain us and be able to cater for both our insurance and medical needs. Remember that the more we age, the more we are susceptible to suffer from different illnesses. We should not look at our children as some form of insurance strategy. We need to be able to sustain ourselves with a good degree of independence since we have our retirement benefits as a starting point,” he said.
He demonstrated that about 75% of retirees who are paid lump-sum benefits consume them. He also illustrated that for lump-sum benefits received by retirees and invested in a business, 48% turned out to be unprofitable, 31% had operating profitability, and 21% collapsed.
He introduced members to a new retirement income option of Annuities; designed to protect people from the risk of outliving their income. According to him, Annuity arrangements allow the retiree to have guaranteed income for life or for a convenient number of years after retirement.
“This follows a stipulated premium paid by the person seeking the annuity (annuitant) either through prior instalments or in a single payment, such as a member’s accumulated (prescribed portion or all) benefits upon retirement. Annuities are provided by insurance companies which are licensed to provide this service in accordance with the Law,” he said.
Mr. Njuguna briefed participants on how to create suitable and sustainable businesses. He advised workers to always invest in businesses or services in which they have experience or knowledge. “Being a professor at University, does not guarantee that you are a professor in poultry farming. You need to invest wisely, ensure that the business or investment idea you are undertaking is in line with your knowledge, experience and interest in order to avoid severe losses. Before you start a business, know its challenges,” he advised.
The Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences Prof. Tonny Oyana advised staff to use the financial wisdom given by God when investing in businesses. “God designed us to thrive and gave us a business model. God says if you are hardworking, He will reward you and if you are lazy you will die of poverty. Work hard and plan for yourself and your family,” he said.
Mr. Joseph Musoke, the representative of the support staff on the Makerere University Council, thanked the organizers for the successful workshop. He also appreciated the presenters for the informative and inspirational interactions.
Article by Nabatte Proscovia, Mak 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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