General
Prof. Bazeyo shares experience with international students
“Many years ago, I was in your shoes. I was getting ready to leave my home country, my family, and my friends, to go for my studies at the National University in Singapore. I could not imagine how life would be in a new country with new people, living a different culture. I was both excited, and terrified at the same time. But guess what, this one of my best experiences ever. I have absolutely no regrets, and I am sure that you won't have any either,” said Prof. William Bazeyo, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Prof. Bazeyo was speaking to over 200 full-term, Short-term and Exchange international students for academic year 2019/2020; at their Orientation Meeting on 16th August 2019 organized by Makerere University International Relations Office. According to Prof. Bazeyo, leaving one’s home is the strongest decisions someone has ever made. He therefore encouraged the students to fully utilize the time they are to spend at Makerere University and Uganda at large to fulfil their academic objectives.
“Make the absolute most of your time spent here to embrace the culture, learn as much as you can, focus on your classes, get to know new people and never waste an opportunity to try something that will broaden your horizons,” he said.
He called upon students to embrace the students-management open door policy that allows students to interact freely with Makerere University Management. Addressing over 200 students in the Senior Common Room- Makerere University Main Building, Prof. William Bazeyo said students should be free to meet any member of the University Management in case they need help.
“You are entitled to see any person from the University leadership. We are here for you and we are meant to serve you. Call me, send me a text. You can even WhatsApp me in case you need help. Do not hesitate to approach any office for support. We want you to fulfil your academic objectives but also enjoy the social benefits of studying at Makerere University,” he said.
The Acting Manager for Communication and International RelationsDr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke congratulated students upon joining Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest institution of Higher Learning. He assured them of the institution’s commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming place for all international students.
“We cannot fulfill our mission to produce the highest caliber of research and solve problems of global significance without attracting the best talent in the world. To meet those goals, we envision an increase in the number of international students,” he said.
The Senior Administrative Assistant (International Relations), Ms. Martha Muwanguzi, advised students to utilize the help of the students’ leaders and the International Office during their stay at the University.
“The International Office is the reference point for all your queries both academically and socially in liaison with other administrative units within the University, therefore feel free to approach us anytime. Do not be afraid to engage in discussions with fellow students or share your perspective about your lectures,” said Ms. Muwanguzi.
The Senior Assistant Registrar, Ms. Joyce Muhanguzi, appealed to international students to take their studies seriously and advised them to register with the University Library to be able to acquire reading materials.
“Your path as a future leader starts now, engage in constructive intellectual debates, leadership activities, research and innovations. If you stay on this path, there is no doubt that you will become a model citizen who will develop life impacting solutions that will change your community,” said Ms. Muhanguzi.
Students were taken through the procedures of enrolling on AIMS (Academic Integrated Management System) by Mr. Yunusu Musisi from the Directorate of ICT Support (DICTS).
Article by Mak 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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