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 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
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