General
First Year Bachelor of Defence Studies students undergo orientation at Mak library
By Hasifa Kabejja
A total of 73 cadets recently admitted for the Bachelor of Defense Studies of Makerere have today, 15th October 2021 undergone orientation at the University Main Library.
According to the Head of Team and UPDF Head Academics Col. Santurino Tumuranzye, Uganda Military Academy (UMA), Kabamba, an affiliate institution of Makerere University under the School of Social Sciences has made it a tradition for all cadets admitted for the programme to undergo orientation on the use of library services before embarking on their studies. Introducing the students to the Library staff, Col Tumuranzye, on behalf of Uganda Peoples Defence Forces appreciated Makerere University for the support rendered towards professionalizing the Army. He specifically thanked the University Librarian, Prof. Helen M. Byamugisha and the Dean, School of Social Sciences, Dr Andrew Ellias State for always being supportive with the orientation.
Led by University Librarian Prof. Byamugisha, Makerere University Main Library staff including, Deputy University Librarian Dr Ruth Nalumaga, Mr. Patrick Sekikome and Ms Caroline Kobusingye have sensitized the students on a number of issues including catalogue and database searching strategies.
Addressing the students, Prof. Byamugisha emphasized the importance of the library as a critical source of information. She pointed out that Makerere University Main Library was one of the biggest on the African Continent, with all sorts of information materials required for various programmes.
In his remarks, the Dean, School of Social Sciences, Dr Andrew Ellias State appreciated the leadership of Makerere University Main Library for tirelessly supporting the School with the orientation programme. He cautioned the students to make good use of the library in the course of their studies. “The library is the most important institution at the University that cannot be avoided. The University allows you to think and generate knowledge. You cannot claim to have done resourceful research without visiting the library,” he stated.
Following the training, the students were taken on a tour of the University Library.
About the Bachelor of Defence Studies
The Bachelor of Defence Studies of Makerere University is an interdisciplinary programme with courses broadly from Political Science. The three-year programme introduced in 2019 is in line with the East African Community Defense Protocol signed by governments to improve on the training of cadets in the region. The programme is also intended to professionalize the army.
Hosted under the School of Social Sciences at Makerere University, the programme is taught by staff from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, as well as other Units within the Social Sciences. The programme is strictly taught at Uganda Military Academy, Kabamba but the students attain a degree of Makerere University.
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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