General
Strides with Makerere University’s Research and Innovations Fund (RIF)
Following successful engagements between Makerere University’s top management and the Government of the Republic of Uganda, Makerere University was awarded up to a tune of 30 billion Uganda shillings to support high impact Research and Innovations to drive Uganda’s Development Agenda. This unique initiative is being implemented with guidance from the Grants Management Committee under the Research and Innovations Fund (RIF) at Makerere University in Kampala Uganda. Upon receipt of these funds, Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe working closely with the University Management and Leadership team constituted the Grants Management Committee (GMC) comprising 17 University staff and faculty (Male and Female) https://rif.mak.ac.ug/.
In consultation with the Government of the Republic of Uganda line Ministry-Ministry of Finance, the GMC drafted and announced a call for proposals. This call was extensively publicized, engaging all Makerere University staff and faculty to prepare and submit applications to respond to the call. In addition to the general sensitization session held in Makerere University’s Main Hall https://news.mak.ac.ug/2019/08/mak-rolls-out-government-research-and-innovations-fund, the GMC physically reached-out and engaged potential applicants at the various levels including; College, Academic and Administrative Units and School. See the engagement sessions shared on https://www.facebook.com/researchandinnovationsfund/.
Overall, the GMC received 704 applications from the 10 Colleges of Makerere University including Administrative units and Makerere University Business School. It is important to note that the majority, if not all the proposals received, were indeed very good and directly linking to the national development agenda. It took a big pool of both internal and external reviewers in-depth scrutiny of all the proposals to select those to be awarded. This is yet another manifestation of the multidisciplinary skills, rich knowledge base at Makerere University. ‘It is no wonder, therefore, that Makerere University is ranked 4th best University in Africa! I am forever grateful and proud even as an alumnus to associate with Makerere University’s shared Dr. Roy William Mayega, Senior Lecturer at Makerere University School of Public Health, Deputy Chief of Party at ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) and also Coordinator GMC.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, GMC conducted an Induction Session physically engaging the 224 successful RIF awardees. This was an opportunity to orient the awardees (who are from across all the Makerere University Colleges, Academic Units, and Makerere University Business School) on the research and innovation fund processes. These processes include but are not limited to the contracting process, requisitioning, procurement, expected transparent and timely accountability, documentation, dissemination, research translation, innovation among others.
'Once again, we are forever grateful to the Government of the Republic of Uganda for allocating and availing Makerere University funds to further support Research and Innovation. The research and innovations being supported by these resources are aimed at informing Uganda's development agenda. It is such initiatives which can indeed lead to our country's further growth and development' noted Associate Prof. Umar Kakumba, Acting Vice-Chancellor Makerere University.
During this engagement session, Prof. William Bazeyo, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor-Finance and Administration and the Chairman GMC urged the researchers and innovators in the room to work extremely well and hard so that in the shortest time possible, we can all engage stakeholders in results dissemination sessions, sharing outputs from the RIF funded projects. He also called upon these awardees to look out for the 2nd Call which will be unveiled on January 15th, 2020. Known for the slogan ‘Be a Contribution’, Prof. Bazeyo said 'Let us all aim at diligently executing this work to positively contribute to the communities we live in and serve' as he wished all the awardees the very best with the detailed planning and implementation process. Currently, awardees have revised their proposals, budgets, and milestones too in line with the award. The GMC is overseeing the ongoing contracting process in preparation for the onset of the different project activities.
More pictures are shared at https://www.facebook.com/
'We Build for the Future'
Written By: Harriet Adong, RIF Communications Officer
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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