General

H.E Hatem İdris, Saudi Ministry of Education Delegation Visits Mak

Published

2 years ago

November 26, 2019

Mark Wamai

Minister Plenipotentiary H.E Hatem İdris (4th Left) presents a gift to Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (3rd Right) as DVCAA-Dr. Umar Kakumba (2nd Right), Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke (Right) and other officials witness on 26th November 2019, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

On Tuesday 26^th November 2019, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe together with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Umar Kakumba received a high level delegation from the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education led by Minister Plenipotentiary H.E Hatem İdris. The delegation was accompanied by H.E Mr. Bandar Al Faifi, The Chargé d'Affaires of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Uganda.

Prof. Nawangwe welcomed H.E Hatem İdris and his delegation to Makerere and thanked him for including the University on his Ugandan itinerary. He noted that the Uganda has had a long and fruitful relationship with Saudi Arabia dating back to precolonial times and thanked the Minister for support extended to Makerere University staff that pursue their graduate studies in the Royal Kingdom.

“Makerere as a premier University in Africa tries to develop strong links with as many cultures in the world as possible. We have got the Korea Corner and French Corner in the Main Library as well as the Campus France Antenna. We are also home to the Confucius Institute which promotes both Chinese language and culture” he added.

Minister Plenipotentiary H.E Hatem İdris (Left) receives a gift from Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Right) during the Saudi Ministry of Ministry of Education delegation’s visit on 26th November 2019, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

The Vice Chancellor therefore appealed to H.E. Hatem Idris to champion the establishment of a Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies at Makerere University. The Centre, he noted would promote not only the teaching of Arabic but also other aspects of cultural significance such as architecture, music and art.

In his remarks, Dr. Umar Kakumba reiterated the need to establish a Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies at Makerere University, noting that the former Ambassador H.E Dr. Jamal Rafah had also recognized the proposed centre as an avenue to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Makerere University beyond support to Arabic language studies. He wished the delegation fruitful discussions with the Ministry of Education and Sports, noting that deliberations between the Governments of Uganda and Saudi Arabia would set the pace for collaborations with Makerere University.

The Coordinator of Arabic Language at Makerere University, Dr. Ssali Ebraheem thanked H.E. Hatem Idris and the Saudi Arabian Government for the support extended to teaching the language since the collaboration officially started in 2002.

“In particular, I would like to thank His Excellency for the USD 90,000 grant from King Abdalla Bin Abdul Aziiz International Centre for Arabic Language to enable students to study Arabic language for a period of three years. This has boosted teaching of the subject in the Department of European and Oriental Language and we have close to 70 students where we previously had only 20 to 25” added Dr. Ssali.

The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Right) presents a gift to Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Uganda Chargé d'Affaires- H.E Mr. Bandar Al Faifi (2nd Left) as Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke (Left) and Dr. Ssali Ebraheem (2nd Right) witness on 26th November 2019, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

In his remarks H.E Mr. Bandar Al Faifi thanked H.E. Hatem Idris for including Makerere University on his itinerary, adding that the visit would put face to the long collaboration in scholarship between Saudi Arabia and Uganda. He added that Makerere is the most famous University in Africa and therefore gladly announced the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s renewal of the three year grant to enable students in the Department of European and Oriental to study the Arabic language.

The representative of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia in his remarks thanked the Vice Chancellor and Members of Management for sparing time to meet the delegation. He added that the visit would strengthen discussions on the Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies’s proposed establishment at Makerere University. The representative added that the delegation would use the same visit to discuss with the Ministry of Education and Sports the establishment of an independent National Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Present at the discussions were the University Librarian-Dr. Helen Byamugisha, Dean of Students-Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe, Director Research and Graduate Training-Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, Director Internal Audit-Mr. Walter Yorac Nono and staff from the Department of European and Oriental Languages. The discussions were moderated Acting Manager, Communication and International Relations-Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke who also doubled as translator from Arabic to English and vice versa.

Article by Public Relations Office

General

Veteran Professor changed Makerere and Higher Education

Published

2 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

2 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.