Education
Prof. Nawangwe Shares Mak’s ODeL Milestones at 16th RUFORUM AGM High Level Dialogue
Published
5 years agoon

As part of activities to mark its 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) held a High Level Dialogue on the theme Realignment towards Online Teaching and Learning in Universities: Learning from each other. The virtual event held on 18th November 2020 was split into two sessions, with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe as Lead Speaker for the first and Prof Francis Petersen, Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of Free State, Southern Africa as Lead Speaker for the second.
Welcoming participants to the dialogue, RUFORUM Executive Secretary, Prof. Adipala Ekwamu noted that galvanizing efforts towards online teaching and learning in Universities in Africa remains an important and relevant factor. This, he said, would require in-depth analysis of modern digital technologies, pedagogical approaches that must be adopted as well as knowledge and skills to facilitate the transition to online teaching and learning in the face of COVID-19.
The first session was moderated by Prof. Dora F. Edu-Buandoh, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She asked the Lead Speaker, Prof. Nawangwe to give an overview of and discuss how integration of digital technologies can be effected in African universities’ systems to cause meaningful impact. She also requested him to share the key challenges universities have recorded in mainstreaming online teaching and learning in the Higher Education System in Africa.
Delivering his presentation in the context of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe shared that despite numerous technological advances and increased penetration of smart phones in Africa, the digital divide is still real and is further compounded by factors such as unreliable electricity supply. He nevertheless pointed out that the Makerere University E-Learning Environment (MUELE) is a Moodle-based Learning Management System (LMS) backed by some of the best ICT infrastructure with a bandwidth capacity of 0.5Mbps. MUELE had 791 well-designed, interactive, activity-based courses before April 2020 and 157 have since been added.
The Vice Chancellor said that Makerere University opted to embrace blended learning, which makes use of a combination of technologies, approaches and methodologies, to deliver courses to learners separated by time and space from facilitators as well as fellow learners. He added that the University Open, Distance and eLearning (ODeL) Policy was approved by the University Council in 2015. The policy paved way for the creation of an ODeL pedagogy support Unit, the Institute of Open, Distance and eLearning (IODeL).
Prof. Nawangwe shared that both the previous and current (2020-2030) institutional Strategic Plans had recognized ODeL as a major strategy and as such, put in place quality assurance systems as outlined in the Quality Assurance Policy. He said that whereas the current institutional budget of UGX 200Million per annum to support ODeL was still low, support towards the enabling environment; ICT Services and Internet bandwidth costs, is close to US$ 1Million.
Sharing results from the E-Learning Readiness Tracer Study conducted by the University prior to emergency ODeL rollout, Prof. Nawangwe noted that 75% of over 12,400 student respondents had expressed willingness to continue their studies online. Some of the challenges cited by students unwilling to continue learning online included high data costs, lack of laptops and poor connectivity in rural areas, among others.
To help support the emergency ODeL rollout and ensure that these genuine concerns were addressed, the Vice Chancellor had negotiated with telecommunication companies to effect zero rating of Makerere University’s E-Learning and other related websites. The University has also negotiated with equipment manufacturers to help secure affordable laptops for staff and students.
In the spirit of leaving no student behind, the University has appointed E-Learning coordinators for each School and is making progress with developing learning assistance/options for students with visual impairment and other disabilities. The Vice Chancellor concluded by sharing that Makerere University has since 1991 been preparing for ODeL delivery, which is the future of teaching and learning even after the COVID-19 pandemic dissipates. He summed it all up by saying that recent policy changes brought about by COVID-19 will enable the institution to rollout emergency ODeL to traditionally face-to-face programmes whilst strengthening existing ones.
The first panelist of the day was Prof. Address Malata, Vice Chancellor of the Malawi University of Science and Technology. In her presentation, she noted that lack of; policy frameworks, necessary infrastructure, experience in pedagogy by academic staff and experience in learning by students were some of the key challenges in realigning learning content for effective online delivery.
In line with online pedagogy, Prof. Malata said that the lack of knowledge and skills to; customize content for teaching, engage with and properly assess students were some of the biggest challenges for academic staff. She also identified lack of time management skills to effectively plan for online teaching as another major hindrance for staff.
On the part of online learning by students, she outlined the lack of knowledge and skills to; handle non-traditional forms of lecture delivery such as video and audio, engage with lecturers and fellow students, and deal with non-traditional forms of assessment such as quizzes as some of the challenges. Prof. Malata pointed out most students’ lack of experience with the learner centered approach, which requires them to actively participate in classroom activities as an additional challenge.
Linking African Universities with knowledge centres in the area of online teaching and learning is a precursor for institutions learning from each other. Explaining how this may be achieved, Prof. Malata said there is need to create centres of excellence in online teaching and learning in different Universities in Africa. These, she said, may be complemented by the creation of an annual peer-reviewed conference and an African Journal both dedicated to online teaching and learning.
Prof. Youssao Abdou Karim Issaka from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin was the second panelist of the day. He represented the Beninese Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, H.E. Hon. Prof. Dr. Eleonore Ladekan Yayi. Prof. Issaka noted that whereas internet bandwidth was initially insufficient to support online teaching and learning, the Government of Benin had managed to improve it to 100Mbps per University. The country has four major universities, with two of these being multidisciplinary.
In a bid to support online teaching and learning in the wake of COVID-19, the Beninese Government had successfully negotiated with telecommunication companies for zero-rating access to online teaching and learning platforms in all universities including privately-owned ones. In order to ensure quality in Higher Education, Prof. Issaka said that his Government had put in place a project to restructure all courses to be tenable online. This as well as other interventions have enabled Universities in Benin to stay on schedule to complete the current academic year in December 2020.
Responding to a question from Prof. Edu-Buandoh on how the integrity of the examinations process will be maintained under ODeL, Prof. Nawangwe shared that examinations at Makerere University will not be conducted online for this academic year. He added that whereas exams for this semester would be conducted in situ, the University was working with experts from various fields on protocols to facilitate online examinations in the future.
Article by Public Relations Office

You may like
-
MakSPH Supports Uganda’s Final Push to End HIV with Locally Led Surveillance
-
CAES Annual Report 2024
-
MakSPH 2024 Annual Report
-
TB in Prisons Eight Times Higher Risk than General Population in Uganda, Study
-
Mak receives ICT equipment to boost teaching, learning, and research
-
RUFORUM Newsletter: Celebrating Twenty Years of Educating Africa 2004-2024
Education
Trump vs. Harvard: A Threat to Academic Freedom Driving African Students to China
Published
1 week agoon
May 29, 2025By
Mak Editor
By Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru
The escalating fight between veteran US President Donald Trump and the powerful American institutions like Harvard University is politics, it’s bare-faced incursion into intellectual freedom that can reshape the international world of higher education, particularly for Africans. The latest “scandal,” Trump’s combative condemnation of colleges as liberal ideological hotbeds, amplified by legal intimidation and political retaliation against colleges like Harvard, is damaging America’s international reputation as the academic gold standard. Unless the trend continues, African scholars have long regarded American colleges as embodiments of intellectual liberty will seek further afield, such as China’s Tsinghua University, and redefine the landscape of scholarship.
Trump himself, bloated-check on his 2024 campaign and beyond, denounces elite universities as “woke” indoctrination centers. Demands to defund universities, ideological segregation, and laser-beam focus on diversity programs have chilled the atmosphere. Harvard, already on trial for affirmative action and accused of suppressing conservative thinking, is under greater scrutiny than ever. The Trump-endorsed Supreme Court win in 2023 over the case against racially discriminatory admissions, as a triumph for Trump and his faithful, has been exerting political pressure on institutions to fall in line. Politicization is destroying the very essence of intellectual freedom: freedom to pursue truth through means of open-ended inquiry, unhampered by interference.
For African students, it is shattering the American academic dream. America has been the preferred destination of African Muslims for many years, with 400,000 or more African students enrolled in American universities by 2023. Harvard stands for hope, intellectual activism, and interdependence worldwide. But when academic freedom is attacked, either in Muslim nations by executive fiat or group demonization, students question the system. The image of American universities as payoff politics centers rather than temples of knowledge is a great discourager.
Take the case of China, which has placed its universities at the world map. Tsinghua University, affectionately referred to as “China’s MIT,” features among the top 20 universities in the world with state-of-the-art research in AI, engineering, and global governance. China’s Belt and Road initiative has already prompted scholarship collaborations with Africa, awarding more than 50,000 African students scholarship annually. China provides an open alternative to America, in which political anti-foreigner prejudice and visa controls have tightened but in which Tsinghua’s insistence upon technical discipline and non-Western-inspired political scandal-mongering offers a sanctuary to those denied security and possibility.
Life for African students is a game. If the shine fades from American campuses, Nigerian, Kenyan, or Ghanaian students may be lured by the more appealing prospect of subsidized campuses and meritocratic competition culture of Tsinghua. Chinese universities, though not inexpensive, are another deal: intellectual seriousness untainted by ideational competition distorting American campuses. To Africans bureaucratically and financially strained in America, China’s streamlined visa process and subsidized schooling are appealing. Tsinghua welcomed 20% more African applicants in 2024, and the figures can only go up if America’s learning environment deteriorates.
This has far-reaching implications. Chinese-educated Africans will increasingly adopt the Beijing approach to geopolitics, enhancing China’s soft power in Africa. America will lose the intellectual and cultural capital that it has gained through decades of exportation of Africa’s best and brightest for studies in its institutions. Harvard-educated African leaders have led the innovation and governance driver in the continent; a transition to Tsinghua would funnel those networks into China’s quarter. In order to ensure academic freedom and global competitiveness, America should not politicize its colleges and universities. Institutional autonomy must be upheld by academics and legislative members in a situation where scholarship, rather than ideology, is the basis of higher education. For the students from Africa, the consequence is ominous: college selection not only determines their future but that of the continent. And if the Trump-Harvard soap opera continues chewing away at American scholarship’s trust factor, Tsinghua’s gates will swing wider and wider, and Africa’s best and brightest will walk through them with the U.S. in their rearview mirror.
About the Author

Education
Admission List to Bachelor of Education External (BED) 2025/26 -Private Sponsorship
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 22, 2025By
Mak Editor
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released the admission list of Diploma holders provisionally admitted to Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL) programme under Private Sponsorship for the Academic Year 2025/2026 pending verification of their academic documents by the awarding institutions.
The List can be accessed by following the link below:
Education
Makerere University embarks on developing e-Learning Digital Transformation Roadmap
Published
4 weeks agoon
May 8, 2025
Makerere University has been selected to participate in Phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative aimed at the development of a five-year digital pedagogy transformation roadmap (2025-2030).
This noble task championed by the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) through its expert team at the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) will shape the future of e-learning and digital education in Uganda.
In phase 2, the Mastercard Foundation commits to supporting e-Learning and digital transformation based on the needs of each institution. Makerere University’s consideration for Phase 2 follows the successful implementation of phase 1 of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative (2021-2024), which registered remarkable achievements.
‘In a bid to consolidate the gains of phase 1 and transition into a digitally resilient and learner-centred institution, Makerere University has been selected to participate in phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative. Led by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), phase 2 aims to support partner universities in designing and implementing a five-year digital pedagogy transformation roadmap (2025-2030),” highlighted Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Director of IODeL.
Speaking at the co-creation workshop held on 24th April 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Prof. Birevu Muyinda said: “During phase 1, Makerere University registered significant achievements in e-Learning. I am glad that you have convened here today during the e-Learning Digital Transformation workshop, to receive the dissemination results as we work together to prepare for phase 2, which focuses on the unique needs for each institution.”

Through phase 1, which aimed at enhancing the e-learning capabilities of partner institutions, Makerere University strengthened the existing Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE), conducted onboarding workshops for the university leadership, trained teaching staff and students, and engaged teaching staff to develop content for online courses.
According to Prof. Birevu Muyinda, the specific achievements of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative included the following:
- Training of 1,280 faculty members
- Development of 2,579 courses out of 2,560 representing 100.74%
- Development of four (4) support services modules
- Capacity building for over 7,000 students
- Training and recruitment of 32 e-Learning champions
- Upgrading of the Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE)
- Acquisition of e-Learning infrastructure namely five (5) multi-media studios, a video streaming server and all in one printers.
The co-creation workshop for phase 2 and dissemination of results for the concluded phase 1, brought on board over 75 participants comprising members of Makerere University Management, the Principal and staff of the College of Education and External Studies, a representative from the Ministry of Education and Sports, student leaders, the media, the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University(ASU)-USA, and a representative sample of staff from academic and administrative units of Makerere University.

Facilitated by Arizona State University (ASU) working closely with IODeL, the interactive co-creation sessions involved taking into account the milestones from phase 1 and leveraging the successes, as well as coming up with proposed strategies for phase 2.
The co-creation workshop involved understanding the concept transformation road mapping, using a grid to identify the current state of e-Learning and digital transformation at Makerere University and the desired state, assessment alignment on shared vision for the current and the desired state, and identifying learner needs in line with the desired state, among other items.
The workshop adopted a holistic approach to digital transformation focusing on the following themes: teaching and learning, student services, instructional infrastructure, leadership and culture, and partnerships. For each cluster, the participants proposed immediate, short-term and long-term strategies with respect to digital transformation in those processes. With each group presenting during the plenary sessions, the co-creation workshop was a success. The ideas were captured instantly feeding into the proposal for the phase 2 e-learning digital transformation roadmap (2025-2030).

At this highly participatory workshop, reaching consensus was a key factor in determining the ideas that were included in the proposal.
In addition to the aforementioned clusters, some of the broader aspects that the co-creation teams highlighted should be prioritized included:
- Adoption of e-supervision of students
- Increasing enrollment of international students through e-Learning
- Reducing the digital divide among learners
- Ensuring digital inclusion with programs sensitive to learners with disabilities
- Capacity building programmes for administrative support

Opening the co-creation workshop, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Makerere University, conveyed the congratulatory messages from the University Council and Management on the successful completion of phase 1 and its remarkable achievements.
On behalf of the University Management, Prof. Buyinza said, phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative should be a revolutionary phase, igniting Makerere University to be a key player in digital education and integration of technologies.
Reflecting on youth empowerment, Prof. Buyinza highlighted that phase 2 is student-centred with e-Learning and digital pedagogies addressing the needs of learners. In addition, Prof. Buyinza underscored that this approach will increase the number of students accessing quality education programmes at Makerere University at the national and international levels.

The Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) commended the Mastercard Foundation for partnering with Makerere University to empower the young people through education and technological advancements. Prof. Buyinza acknowledged the collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and Arizona State University (ASU) for building the capacity of faculty at Makerere University.
Emphasizing the importance of building capacity, retooling and reshaping the curriculum to produce graduates who meet the demands of the modern workforce, Prof. Buyinza re-affirmed that Makerere University is a learning institution committed to embracing new approaches. He recognized the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) for holding onboarding workshops for the University leadership, staff and students in phase 1.
Prof. Buyinza testified that the onboarding sessions changed his perception, and transformed him into a firm believer in positioning e-Learning to champion the digital transformation agenda at Makerere University. He disclosed that he is a “convert” to the transformative potential of technology integration, learner-centeredness, industry partnerships, and lifelong learning, key features of University 5.0.

He urged participants to utilize the co-creation e-Learning digital transformation workshop to define institutional needs and expectations, allowing for a more rapid and collaborative advancement into the “revolutionary” phase 2.
Building on the Prof. Buyinza’s submission, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga informed the participants that phase 2, which focuses on e-Learning and digital transformation should empower the faculty and university at large to provide inclusive education. He implored the co-creation team and stakeholders to come up with digital strategies for students who are visually impaired and those with hearing impairments.
Prof. Mugagga emphasized the importance of continuous learning and self-examination, stating that even a professor should strive to be open to new knowledge. With reference to Socrates’ philosophy, he suggested that a life devoid of learning is not worth living.

In a moving testimony, the Principal explained that he is always learning new ideas from his techy savvy son. Prof. Mugagga shared that his son continues to be instrumental in teaching him online safety principles and techniques. This experience underscored the generational gap in digital literacy and the importance of adapting to the evolving digital landscape.
The Principal expressed his hope to learn from the workshop, acknowledging that digital transformation requires everyone to be proactive in acquiring new skills.
On behalf of the students, Hon. Julius Kiganda, the Minister of Academic Affairs at Makerere University commended the organisers for including students in the e-Learning digital transformation workshop. Hon. Kiganda pledged active participation in the training to ensure that the interests of the students are effectively captured.

Evaluating phase 1, Ann Nielsen from Mastercard Foundation recognized that the institutions had built a solid foundation, prompting a transition into phase 2 to address the unique needs of each university.
“Phase 2 will prioritize scaling training and knowledge mobilization, offering opportunities for scholars to pursue learning design and technologies, graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and professional certificates tailored for individuals seeking instructional design knowledge.
“Mastercard Foundation will emphasize inclusive learning practices, collaborating with experts to ensure accessibility and equity. The Foundation aims to enhance digital infrastructure, focusing on student support systems, quality management, and data-driven decision-making in order to meet diverse learner needs,” Nielsen explained.

The Foundation revealed that the ultimate goal is to collectively impact policies across the continent, advocating for e-learning as a valid and accredited pathway to quality education. Recognizing the network’s growing maturity, the initiative aims to position participating universities as leaders and resources, fostering collaborative learning and co-creation.
The Foundation’s participation stems from a belief in the future of young Africans, seeking to equip them with education and skills to fulfill their careers by strengthening institutions and scaling innovative solutions through technology. The focus shifts from a reactive response to a sustainable and long-term initiative.
Regan Matsiko, the IT Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to digital advancement, drawing on prior experience with the national digital transformation roadmap initiated by the Ministry of ICT. “This roadmap, built on five key pillars including digital scaling and infrastructure development, serves as a foundation for current initiatives within the education sector.”

Matsiko emphasized the Ministry of Education and Sports’ development of a digital agenda last year as demonstration of a proactive approach to integrating technology.
He commended the partnership with universities in developing e-learning programs. Matsiko noted a shift towards a more integrated structure within the Ministry, where the ICT department now includes a dedicated e-learning department working directly with university partners, demonstrating a unified push for digital transformation in education.
The voices from key stakeholders set the stage for an interactive and high participatory training session. Lara Rabala the facilitator of the training outlined the primary objectives. These included: To collaboratively envision e-learning-driven classrooms, not only for the host institution but also for external partners, aligning proposed initiatives with McKinney’s strategies and broader community programs.
She noted that a key focus will be on formulating recommendations that correspond with critical areas to drive the development of a roadmap and implementation plan.

Labala stressed that the aim is to establish a clear vision for the future, crafting a transformative roadmap and a practical implementation plan. This roadmap will serve as the foundation for a tangible proposal to attract funding and partnerships, articulating the vision and direction for key learning and behavioral transformation.
Trainees were encouraged to respect the past as the foundation for the present and future, while also imagining innovative possibilities. Trainees, regardless of their expertise, were urged to maintain curiosity, open-mindedness, and value every voice.
The co-creation sessions featured the following clusters:
- Teaching and learning: Digital strategy, pedagogical services, faculty development and staff support
- Student services: Engagement-enrollment, Administrative support and Academic Support
- Instructional Infrastructure: Connectivity, Educational technology, and Instructional design learning analysis
- Leadership and Culture: Internal stakeholders, Leadership structure, Governance models, Innovative Culture
- Partnerships: Development, Evaluation and External Stakeholders
Closing the co-creation workshop, Prof. Birevu Muyinda said: “The exercise has presented us with an understanding of the major activities to be undertaken and the key priorities.”
With the support of the Mastercard Foundation and other partners, Makerere University is focused to develop a comprehensive e-learning roadmap, driving innovation and excellence in education.
Trending
-
Agriculture & Environment5 days ago
MUARIK Main Gate Gets a Facelift
-
Business & Management2 weeks ago
CoBAMS Annual Report 2024
-
General1 week ago
Vice Chancellor Updates Media on Medical Drones, Road Safety Research & Various Issues
-
Agriculture & Environment1 week ago
CAES Annual Report 2024
-
In Press2 weeks ago
The crisis of impressions in Uganda