General

Mak, NC State and Regional Universities to Collaborate in Research

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2019

Mark Wamai

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2nd L) chats with NC State's Dr. Craig Yencho as Dr. Bailian Li – Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement (R) listens during the summit opening day on 11th March 2019, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

The Senior Vice Provost, Global Engagement, North Carolina State University (NC State), USA, Dr. Bailian Li has commended Makerere University (Mak) for its great contribution towards the rapid growth of Uganda through its research and teaching. This was on Wednesday, 13th March 2019 in Telepresence Centre, Senate Building where he was giving closing remarks at the end of the East African Higher Education Summit. Makerere University together with North Carolina State University held a summit with national and regional Universities with the purpose of developing strategies to strengthen higher education in East Africa. This is an expansion of the partnership between Mak and NC State established in 2015.

According to Dr. Bailian Li, NC State is aiming at addressing global challenges and the collaboration made with the East African Universities is likely to aid rapid development in the world’s education sector. He said that since it’s the education sector that leads to the country’s growth and development, NC State will seek to establish a physical presence in Makerere University to monitor the progress of all regional University programs.

The Gulu University Vice Chancellor-Prof. George Openjuru makes his remarks during the Mak-NC State summit

“USA was made strong and powerful by its Universities, China is doing wonders through its Universities, Malyasia is taking off because of its Universities, Africa will only achieve its best when its Universities work harder and harder to develop it and I believe that Universities in East Africa can improve on the region’s development through improving the education sector,” said Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe

Prof Nawangwe also noted that Universities are popular because of the great impact that they have on the country and its people and in the same way, Makerere University became popular for its high quality of education and research. He encouraged the Vice Chancellors of other regional Universities to join hands and make good use of the opportunity that has been provided by NC State.

Dr. Gertrude Kiwanuka represented Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) at the Mak-NC State Summit

“We have the potential and out of this summit, we can do it, let’s use the unique opportunities that each University has to uplift East Africa’s education sector,” added Prof. Nawangwe

During the summit, Vice-Chancellors and senior representatives of Universities signed a communiqué expressing their commitment to further deepen the strategic partnership between the collaborating institutions. Reading out the communiqué, the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi noted that the Vice Chancellors committed themselves to:

1.   Building capacity and pursuing excellence in research, teaching and scholarship.
2.   Increasing mobility of staff and students and strengthening regional level training through;
a)   Leveraging joint graduate programs
b)   Developing and retraining quality faculty to conduct high-quality research, teaching and community engagement.
c)   International competitiveness of East African institutions of higher education,
d)   Assuring the quality of educational provision against agreed benchmarks of excellence.

Prof. Peter Wanderi, Principal Corporate Services, Mount Kenya University (MKU) represented his institution

Prof. Buyinza also noted that the partnership has been expanded to include other Universities of East Africa such as; Gulu University (Uganda), Mount Kenya University (Kenya) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Uganda).

In their joint communiqué, the Universities underscored the importance of multilateral collaboration as an instrument to address current and future global challenges namely; food security, climate change and public health through community engagement.

Article by Rachael Kanyi, Volunteer, Mak Public Relations Office

General

Veteran Professor changed Makerere and Higher Education

Published

4 days ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Professor Pancras John Mukasa Ssebuwufu (L) receives a plaque and citation from RUFORUM Board Member and Vice Chancellor Ndejje University-Professor Eriabu Lugujjo (Right) on 6th May 2021 at the RUFORUM Secretariat, Plot 155 Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus,

When Professor John Ssebuwufu ambled up to receive a certificate of recognition for his ‘exceptional’ contribution to higher education from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) at Makerere University (MU), he was thinking of many things, such as rewarding staff, that he could have done differently to impact university education more.

But he did what he could have done, under the circumstances.

He presided over MU (in 1993) when student enrolment was 5,000 and left in 2004 when the population was surging to more than 15,000.

He emphasised the use of information communication technologies in almost all the institutions he had been involved in and sent many academic staff on exchanges to boost research and innovation. Now, more African universities engage in ground-breaking research.

So, he proceeded to accept his recognition and make his acceptance speech, which was mostly about gratitude.

Ssebuwufu, 74, who is currently the chancellor at Kyambogo University and the vice-chancellor of the University of Kisubi, is credited for his exemplary leadership and pragmatic methods that have shaped higher education in Uganda and Africa as a whole.

General

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022

Published

4 days ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022. Photo credit: AfDB

The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program is a capacity building project by the AfDB and Japan which was initiated in 2017 with the aim of providing two-year scholarship awards to highly achieving African graduate students to enable them to undergo post-graduate studies (i.e. a two-year Master’s degree program) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The overarching goal the AfDB and the Government of Japan seek to attain is to enhance skills and human resources development in Africa in under the Bank’s High 5s agenda (i.e. “Feed Africa”, “Light up Africa”, “Industrialize Africa”, “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa”) and key Japanese development assistance initiatives. JADS core areas of study focus include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering. The program also seeks to promote inter-university collaboration and university-industry partnerships between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, the JADS scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the public and private sectors, and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development.

About the JADS program

The JADS Program is open to applicants from AfDB member countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a graduate degree program in energy development and related discipline. The program does not provide scholarships to any other graduate degree program.

The scholarship program provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.

Upon completion of their studies, the beneficiary scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills, and contribute to the promotion of sustainable development of their countries.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The program is open to those who have gained admission to an approved Masters degree course at a Japanese partner university. Candidates should be 35 years old or younger; in good health; with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the energy area or related area; and have a superior academic record. Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to return to their home country to contribute to its economic and social development.

Application Procedures

Applicant requests for information and application forms and procedures from the chosen JADS partner university. For any inquiries, please contact JADS@AFDB.ORG
Applicant completes required documents and sends them to the university.
University evaluates and selects applicants.
University sends selected candidates to the AfDB.
AfDB reviews submissions from universities, prepares and approves the final list.
AfDB contacts selected awardees, and informs the universities.