General
The Vice Chancellor urges University Students to embrace new skills to survive in the competitive world
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has urged University students to embrace new skills and technology if they are to survive in the competitive world of work. He said this while addressing over 50 Students from Makerere University and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, while launching a 10-day training dubbed the Pearl of Africa Leadership Camp. The Leadership Camp brings together students from Makerere University and the University of Edinburgh who are sponsored by Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Mr. Matia Kabuye, the Ag. Director of Planning and Development Department (PDD) represented the Vice Chancellor at the event. He further urged students to consider trainings such as the Pearl of Africa Leadership Camp seriously.
“You are being trained to be the next generation of achievers and leaders, who will be committed to service in your community, country and even continent. My advice to you students is; participate and seize opportunities that are presented to you, both at the Universities and outside of them, because if you want to transform your communities, it starts now with the skills you are receiving.” The Vice Chancellor emphasized.
Prof. Nawangwe thanked Mastercard Foundation for offering extra skills to young people through such trainings as the Pearl of Africa Leadership Camp and other programs. He also thanked the Scholars Program team at Makerere University and their counterparts at University of Edinburg for the collaboration and for organizing the Pearl of Africa Leadership Camp. He pointed out that the collaboration between the Universities was very important and that it should be beginning of further engagements between the two Universities in other aspects such as research, innovation, student and staff exchanges and many other areas.
On his part, Mr. Matia Kabuye, who is also the Acting Coordinator of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University pointed out that the Pearl of Africa Leadership Camp was a distinctive platform that was designed to nurture and equip students with practical skills, which they do not get during their academic programs, which was very important.
“Throughout this 10-day training, I believe our young people will find that learning without the pressure of examination can be just as fun-filled and inspiring as play. I urge you to be active participants and make the most of the opportunities available and tap into the great minds that are around you.” He pointed out.
The Pearl of Africa leadership Camp is 10-day academy, which was organized by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University in conjunction with their counterparts at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The Leadership camp will equip the participants with both soft and transferrable skills as well community engagement.
Article by: Mr. Bernard Buteera, MCF Communication and Web Officer
By Agnes Namaganda
On July 22nd 2022, Makerere University–Child Health and Development Centre (Mak–CHDC) launched a draft manual for the National Parenting Standards. The Centre has been working together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) with funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), to develop standards that are agreeable to all organisations in the country that are involved in parenting work. The draft manual was being presented to members of a consortium that brings together all these organisations together, called the Parenting Agenda Consortium.
“We produce many documents and they are shelved,” Irene Ayot Chono, who was speaking on behalf of UNICEF said. “We hope that this document will not be one of them,” she emphasized.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC who presented the draft manual to participants, emphasized that if any organization is doing parenting work, there should be a minimum package that they should offer.
Draft Manual Content
The manual which will have several modules. These modules will be delivered face-to-face in 1.5 hour sessions. Some of these include; Module 6 which will focus on “understanding responsible masculinity and fatherhood” and on “understanding the concept of head of family.”The draft manual also proposed that Module 11 focuses on Parenting in the 21st Century. Some of the sessions in this module will include Children and Technology, Contemporary Influence on Children and Modernity, Culture and Morality.Module 9 will focus on Parenting for Adolescents and some of the suggested sessions within this module are Needs for Adolescents and The Art of Communicating with Adolescents. Module 5 will focus on Preventing Violent Parenting and Promoting Alternative Discipline Strategies while Module 10 will be about Parenting to Address the Mental Health for Children and Adults.
Participants’ suggestions
After the presentation, participants raised several suggestions for discussion and consideration. These included whether there should be a module on spirituality since Uganda is a strongly religious nation. There was also the concern of how children in remand homes should be parented. Another concern raised by a participant was as to whether teachers who make an undeniable contribution to parenting, should be taken through the parenting manual.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said that the manual is for the parenting organisations to utilize and not for MGLSD.
Ms. Chono also adjured the team behind the manual to use picture illustrations in the manual that can be relatable by the Ugandan parents.
Contact: Agnes Namaganda – agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com
-
General2 weeks agoMak Private Sponsorship Undergraduate Admission Lists 2022/23
-
General2 weeks agoUganda’s policymakers implored to address forest loss, plastic & water pollution
-
General2 weeks agoMature Age Entry Scheme Admissions List 2022/2023
-
General2 weeks agoApplication for Mature Age Entry Admission 2023/2024
-
General6 days agoLaunch of Mak-RIF Round 4 Awards & PhD Call for Proposals