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RE-ADVERTISED Call For Applications: 8 Masters Scholarships under CABUTE Project

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Makerere University in collaboration with University of Bergen, Norway; Kyambogo University, Uganda; National Institute of Teacher Education (UNITE); and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is implementing a Six (6) years NORHED II supported Project titled ‘Capacity Building for Research–Based Teacher Education (CABUTE)’.

CABUTE is aimed at enabling Uganda’s successful implementation of the National Teacher Policy through capacity building in English Education, General/Foundation of Education, Mathematics Education and Music Education. The specific objectives of CABUTE are:

  • To strengthen the quality and relevance of postgraduate teacher education and research program and methods in selected subjects
  • To strengthen postgraduate teacher educator education and research systems in the selected subjects.
  • To increase competence and capacity of higher education faculty and teacher educators.
  • To improve institutional small-scale infrastructure and equipment for education and research.
  • To improve gender equality and inclusion of marginalized groups in teacher education and research in selected subjects.
  • To increase availability of opportunities for lifelong learning among teacher educators, and
  • To increase engagement with the Ugandan ministry of education and sports and other relevant stakeholders for dissemination of knowledge, among others.

To achieve these objectives, CABUTE provides a total of eight (8) Masters scholarships to promising scholars conducting their studies and research in one or a combination of the following subject areas:

  • English/English Education (two scholarships)
  • General Education/Foundations of Education (two scholarships)
  • Mathematics/Mathematics Education (two scholarships)
  • Music/Music Education (two scholarships)

The training of the eight (8) students will take place at Makerere University, with co-supervision from the University of Bergen and/or Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

CABUTE especially invites interested candidates from the Ugandan CABUTE-partner institutions (Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and UNITE) to apply for the scholarships. Applicants from other Teacher Training Colleges in Uganda may come into consideration if the CABUTE-partner institutions are unable to recruit well-qualified applicants to the scholarships.

The Masters training will commence in September 2022 and will be supported for a period of two (2) years on full-time basis. The training is preferably under Education-relevant Masters programmes at Makerere University.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  1. Be holding a relevant Bachelor’s degree in one of the following subjects: English/English Education, General Education/Foundations of Education, Mathematics/Mathematics Education, or Music/Music Education
  2. Be a Ugandan citizen, aged not more than 45 years
  3. Be able to stay in Norway for a period of three weeks during the study;
  4. Not holding any other scholarship for Masters studies
  5. Demonstrate the ability to think creatively and work independently
  6. Be able to work in a team of researchers from Uganda and Norway.
  7. Take on a Masters research project in any of the four subject areas
  8. Be a tutor/lecturer in one of the Ugandan CABUTE partner institution (Makerere, Kyambogo or UNITE) or another Teacher Training College in Uganda

Interested applicants should submit the following sets of documents:

  1. An application letter for scholarship for Masters scholarship;
  2. A research Concept Note of maximum five (5) pages (see guidelines given below)
  3. A current CV (maximum five (5) pages), which includes a detailed description of previous education at university level (all courses and grades)
  4. A certified copy of the applicant’s Bachelor degree/diploma certificate
  5. Certified transcripts of grades from all courses at university level
  6. At least two (2) letters of recommendation from academic referees, signed and dated from 2022.
  7. Copy of appointment letter from the Education Service Commission, Ministry of Education and Sports, or proof of employment from own Head of Department/Dean.
  8. Citizenship Proof; copy of national identity card or passport

The Concept Note must include:

  1. A description of the applicant’s research interest in any of the above subject areas
  2. A description of the applicant’s background in this area/these areas
  3. A discussion on the applicant’s motivation for conducting Masters studies
  4. A discussion on what outputs the applicant expects to realize through the Masters studies

Application procedure

All application documents must be zipped up into one file folder named Application for CABUTE PhD Scholarship.

The application with supporting documents should be submitted electronically on email to:
Dr. Paul Birevu Muyinda
Coordinator of CABUTE at Makerere University
paul.birevu@mak.ac.ug

Copies should be sent to:
Assoc. Prof. Steinar Sætre
Principal investigator for the CABUTE project, University of Bergen
steinar.satre@uib.no

Professor Buyinza Makadasi, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Makerere University
Overall Coordinator of NORHED II Programme at Makerere University
mbuyinza@mak.ac.ug

No hardcopies of application documents will be required due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation. Application submission deadline is Wednesday March 9th 2022 at 5pm. Interviews will be conducted at an appropriate date to be communicated. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

ANY APPLICATION SENT AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE REJECTED.

Selection Process

These are competitive Masters scholarships. The applications shall be vetted by a selection panel consisting of professors selected from Makerere University, Kyambogo University,

Uganda National Institute of Teacher Education (UNITE), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and University of Bergen in Norway.

Admission for Masters Studies at Makerere University

The admission for Masters in the four areas of specialization is independent of the scholarship award and hence candidates must follow the existing admission processes/regulations at Makerere University.

Successful candidates for the scholarship who are not yet admitted at Makerere University will be required to follow Makerere University Masters application procedure and secure admission before commencement of the Masters training in September 2022.

Improving equality and inclusion

The CABUTE-project is aiming to improve equality and inclusion of marginalized groups in teacher education, and women, members of ethnic and cultural minorities, and other marginalized groups are therefore strongly encouraged to apply. Please inform us in your application if you want to be considered as an applicant on this basis.

For more details on the different research areas, contact:

Assoc. Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, PhD Coordinator CABUTE Project at Makerere University
Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies
Makerere University E-mail: (paul.birevu@mak.ac.ug)

or

Assoc. Prof. Steinar Saetre
Principal Investigator for the CABUTE Project
Department of Education
University of Bergen
E-mail: (steinar.satre@uib.no)

For more details on CABUTE, check our website:
https://www.uib.no/en/cabute

NOTE
This is a re-advert of the CABUTE Masters Scholarships. Those who applied in our earlier advert should re-apply following the requirements in this new advert. We are sorry for any inconveniences.

Education

Project to boost entrepreneurship in UPE schools launched

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L-R: Dr. Christopher Mugimu the Principal Investigator of the Project, Ms. Gloria Naggayi from RIF and Dr. Hajjat Kuluthum Nabunya from KCCA at the Project Launch. Entrepreneurial Initiative for Universal Primary Education Schools Program Project Launch, March 2024, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

A new project that is hoped to empower Universal Primary Education schools to manage scarcity and be more resourceful has been unveiled at Makerere University.

The Entrepreneurial Initiative for Universal Primary Education Schools Program is intended to provide training to the administrators of UPE schools on how they can use their limited resources to provide quality education to learners.

The project is funded through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

Dr. Christopher Mugimu, a professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Makerere’s College of Education and External Studies, who is also the project lead said they will be helping UPE school managers develop enterprising skills which they can use to optimise the school resources and provide better quality education.

Some of the UPE head teachers who attended the launch of the project. Entrepreneurial Initiative for Universal Primary Education Schools Program Project Launch, March 2024, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the UPE head teachers who attended the launch of the project.

“We realised the government has been supporting UPE by expanding infrastructure, training teachers, and curriculum reforms but still a lot remains to be done in terms of ensuring a good learning environment,” he said.

“We believe that we can get better results from UPE schools if the managers can be helped to become more enterprising by optimizing the little resources they have.”

Dr. Badru Musisi from the Department of Foundation and Curriculum Studies at the School of Education said over the past 27 years, despite the government investing trillions of shillings to boost learning in primary schools, not much has changed in terms of school management.

A group photo of the participants. Entrepreneurial Initiative for Universal Primary Education Schools Program Project Launch, March 2024, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
A group photo of the participants.

“Because of that, the same challenges have persisted; schools don’t have sufficient space, they have no water and hygiene services, they don’t have food and the environment is not enabling for pupils with disabilities,” he said.

Dr. Nicholas Itaaga who represented Prof Anthony Mugagga, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies said a lot needs to be done to combat the high dropout rates in primary schools.

Dr. Itaaga said when he was doing his PhD thesis on UPE in Eastern Uganda, he established that only about 37% of the pupils joining P1 were making it to P7, while the majority of the pupils were dropping out to join their parents in farms.

Dr. Nicholas Itaaga, who represented the Principal of CEES. Entrepreneurial Initiative for Universal Primary Education Schools Program Project Launch, March 2024, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Nicholas Itaaga, who represented the Principal of CEES.

Dr. Hajjat Kuluthum Nabunya, the Officer Education Services KCCA also emphasized this trend, noting that the retention rate of UPE schools in Kampala, like those in rural schools is still alarmingly low.

“Children that are supposed to be in primary schools are the ones you see vending goods on the streets and doing housework at home. Therefore, the government needs initiatives like this,” she said.

On her part, Gloria Naggayi, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund commended the project initiators and tasked them to follow through and ensure that they have positive results by the end of the year.

The number of primary school pupils in the country has grown from 2.1 million in 1997 to over 9 million today.

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Education

CEES Researchers seek to evaluate impact of salary disparities on Education

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Principal CEES-Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga (6th R), Dean SoDLL-Dr. Harriet Nabushawo (5th L), Head DACE-Dr. Stella Achen (3rd R), PI-Ms. Nuluyati Nalwadda (5th R) and other staff at the project launch. College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

During the teachers’ retreat at the State House in 2017, President Museveni promised to increase the salaries of Science teachers. However, his directive was only implemented in 2021. The 300 percent pay rise resulted in a graduate and Grade V teachers’ pay increase to Shs4 million and Shs3m, up from Shs1.1million and Shs796,000 respectively. This increase, however, meant that their counterparts, the Arts Teachers, did not receive a pay increase. The teachers, under their umbrella organization, Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), petitioned the president to increase the salaries of the Arts teachers, arguing that the disparities would affect motivation of other teachers, but government is yet to act on this. This policy decision has sparked discussions surrounding its implications for educational equity, teacher morale, and the broader dynamics within secondary schools.

It is against this background that researchers from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) have set out to study the impact of differential salary increments on secondary school teachers in Uganda.

The Principal Investigator (PI), Ms. Nuluyati Nalwadda. Mak-RIF-funded study of the impact of differential salary increments on secondary school teachers in Uganda, project launch, March 2024, AVU Conference Room, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The Principal Investigator (PI), Ms. Nuluyati Nalwadda.

Speaking during the launch of the project study, the Principal Investigator, Ms. Nuluyati Nalwadda said the study seeks to analyze the impact of differential salary increments on secondary school teachers, examine the psychological effects, attitudes, and perceptions of science and arts teachers, understand the potential implications for teacher motivation, job satisfaction, and service delivery, and also provide valuable insights to inform policy discussions and interventions. Ultimately, this research aims to improve the overall quality of education for students by addressing these critical factors in teacher effectiveness and well-being.

The Principal of CEES, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, congratulated the research team upon winning the MAK RIF grant and for their dedication and commitment to enhancing education outcomes. He urged them to ensure they publish their findings, make new research connections, apply for new grants, and engage the Ministry of Education and Sports. He advised the research team to study the different categories of schools, gender and the effect of these disparities on families. He asked them to be thorough in their research and consider all possible implications. He informed staff that the college had dedicated some resources to help advance research in the different schools. He emphasized the importance of this research in shaping future educational policies.

Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga (Right) and Ms. Harriet Adong (Left). Mak-RIF-funded study of the impact of differential salary increments on secondary school teachers in Uganda, project launch, March 2024, AVU Conference Room, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Ms. Harriet Adong, who represented the Chair of the Grants Management Committee, Prof. Fred Masagazi, urged the staff to use the grant resources for the purpose the funds were meant for. She encouraged them to continue applying for grants, saying the sixth call for RIF would soon come out.

She also called for timely accountability of funds and adherence to the grant guidelines. She stressed the importance of documenting the research processes and sharing findings with the public to ensure transparency and foster collaboration within the scientific community.

The research team. Mak-RIF-funded study of the impact of differential salary increments on secondary school teachers in Uganda, project launch, March 2024, AVU Conference Room, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The research team.

The Deputy Principal, Prof. Ronald Bisaso, also congratulated the team and thanked RIF for the generous support in funding their research project. He also emphasized the importance of continuing to strive for excellence in research and innovation. Citing the 49 RIF grants that college staff have won over the last 5 years, Prof. Bisaso called for more collaboration among staff. “We hope the results of the study will inform government policy, grow larger research teams, and contribute to the development of the country,” he said. The project launch was also attended by the Dean School of Distance and Life Long Learning, Dr. Harriet Nabushawo and the Head of the Department of Adult and Community Education, Dr. Stella Achen who congratulated the research team upon winning the grant.

The Research Team

  1. Ms. Nuluyati Nalwadda
  2. Mr. Joseph Watuleke
  3. Mr. Simon Peter Mabongo
  4. Mr. Lawrence Karyowa

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Education

CEES Newsletter March 2024

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Makerere University Centre for Lifelong Learning and Makerere University Jinja Campus graduation of Diplomas and Certificates from the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), 3rd February 2024, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Over 600 awarded UBTEB certificates

Over 600 students of Makerere University Centre for Lifelong Learning and Makerere University Jinja Campus have graduated with diplomas and Certificates from the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB).

“This academic achievement has launched your real beginning in higher education academics and career growth. For those who had challenges with Advanced Level as a prerequisite for University or academic progression, the diploma comes handy and will enable you to now register for your desired degree course,” Prof. Mugagga said.

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