General

Director Beate Schindler-Kovats Affirms DAAD’s Continued Support to Mak

Published

2 years ago

November 29, 2019

Mark Wamai

Director of the DAAD Regional Office for Africa, Ms. Beate Schindler-Kovats (Right) shows of the Mak Scarf received from Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Left) during her visit on 28th November 2019, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

The Director of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Regional Office for Africa, Ms. Beate Schindler-Kovats on Thursday 28^th November, 2019 paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and urged Makerere University to intensify her networks with regional universities so as to form a block. This, she added, would enable Makerere University to tap into additional opportunities by DAAD and the European Union (EU) that seek to support institutions with regional impact.

“DAAD always has new programmes and opportunities for scholars tenable in Germany and in-Country but we also have a lot of opportunities for universities to cooperate at institutional level and we would be happy if Makerere University participated in these programmes as well” explained Ms. Schindler-Kovats.

Earlier, Prof. Nawangwe had welcomed the Regional Director and thanked DAAD for the tremendous support extended to faculty training and diversification of academic programmes. He noted that German has been taught at Makerere since 1967 and thanked DAAD for the big role played in training Masters and PhDs after the turbulent political period.

“Many colleagues, some of whom now occupy leadership positions elsewhere studied in Germany. Prof. Manuel Muranga is one of the most prominent ones,” added the Vice Chancellor.

Prof. Nawangwe shared that Makerere is keen to strengthen her regional networks and has in the past acted as a hub for North Carolina State University’s East African Higher Education Summit. Participating Universities on the occasion included; Gulu University (Uganda), Mount Kenya University (Kenya) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Uganda).

The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2nd Right) and Ms. Beate Schindler-Kovats (2nd Left) chat as Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke (Left) and Mr. Steven Heimlich (Right) listen during the visit on 28th November 2019, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

“According to data from one of the top ranking agencies, Makerere University has collaborations with all major regional and international universities and this can be seen by the equally high number of co-authored publications in the rankings data” he added.

The Vice Chancellor also cited the upcoming Regional Meeting of the World Health Summit, due to be hosted by Makerere University and the Government of Uganda for the first time in Africa on 27^th and 28^th April 2020, as the result of collaborative efforts. “Makerere is the only African University that is a member of the M8 Alliance and we look forward to hosting our patrons; German Chancellor-Angela Merkel, French President-H.E. Emmanuel Macron, and EU Commission President-H.E. Jean-Claude Juncker at the World Health Summit 2020.”

The DAAD Regional Director noted that whereas German Universities have got Internationalization as a top priority, collaborating with Makerere University would accord them access to an even a wider network of North-South and South-South collaborations. She concurred that collaborations at this new level of worth exploring.

Mr. Steven Heimlich, the in-Country DAAD Office Representative shared that there are currently 60 students studying German as a subject at undergraduate level. He nevertheless noted the need to offer more flexible subject combinations so as to enable even more students study German as a language.

The Vice Chancellor concurred with the need to offer a diversity of options especially in languages to undergraduate students and promised to look into the matter. He also touched on the upcoming Public Lecture on the Brexit and Regional Collaboration by the German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Dr. Albrecht Conze, noting that this would an interesting topic for debate. The lecture is due to be hosted by Makerere University on 10^th December 2019 in the Central Teaching Facility 2 (CTF 2) Auditorium.

Article by Public Relations Office

Related Articles

World Health Summit, Kampala 2020

Mak, NC State and Regional Universities to Collaborate in Research

CAES Strengthens Ties with NC State

Mak-NC State Explore Building Communities for Resilience

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.