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RUFORUM Triennial Thought Pieces: ISSUE 05 – Dr. Egeru Anthony

Published

2 years ago

February 25, 2022

Mark Wamai

RUFORUM Triennial Thought Pieces: ISSUE 05 by Dr. Egeru Anthony, Manager for Training and Community Development - RUFORUM.

Today’s Investments in Science, Technology and Innovation driven Higher Education will define Africa’s success in 2063

A new narrative has been crafted about Africa, “the land of opportunity defining the future of the world”. Africa is now at its transitions from ‘a problem to be solved to a voice to be heard1’ in the international and global conversations. In a twinkle, everything seems to be positive on the several streets, board rooms and international conferences. Are the Africans in these spaces seeing the same patterns at local level or have ‘curtain blinders’ with ‘colourful’ windows for African elites to commence another century of praises. It is now 58 years since the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now African Union was formed by the African Heads of State. Primarily, the OAU was a political outfit for independence liberation and perhaps fortifying leadership and governance in the early stages of States formation. It had limited economic as well as scientific aspirations for a projected true independent Africa.

The African Union in the last decade has attempted to provide bold decisions to make Africa a competitive continent. In these; political, social and economic aspirations, their achievement will rest on key critical investments. True political independence is attained when the people led have meaningful economic progress. But, doing this requires real investments in science, technology and innovation; this is the game changer of competitiveness and expanded economic progress. In the memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew documented in The Singapore Story book; he made an important observation on how he went by organizing the country; speaking at a rally he made this remark “In ten years we will breed a generation of Malays, educated and with an understanding of the techniques of science and modern industrial management2”. For the earlier part of his memoir recognizes the great observations he earlier had with Harold Wilson at the time he contested for the Office of the Prime Minister of the UK; for his resolve to get Britain going again by using her lead in science and technology was an important part of his campaign.

These illustrations may seem to be far-fetched at the risk of even being sidelined as the usual narratives that have been told, spoken about and reviewed in various policy dialogues as well as conferences. However, I reiterate here that unless there is a strong political will and commitment from the African leadership to invest in science, technology and innovation not from pronouncements of good will but in getting things done fair and square will real progress take shape in the continent. Currently, there are several of economic stimulus and investments under implementation trying to get economies working across the continent but most of these are reacting to the unemployment challenge, breeding necessity entrepreneurs and entrenching import-based commerce as well as imported technologies and solutions. In another book; From Third World to First World, the Singapore Story: 1965-2000, Lee Kuan Yew articulated that “after grappling with the problem of unemployment for years since we first took office in 1959, all of us in the cabinet knew that the only way to survive was to industrialize3”. But, to do that, science, technology and automation had to drive the process. This has continued to underpin development progress to date. In fact, innovation and entrepreneurship are inseparable for achieving competitive advantage.

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Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi Appointed Acting DVC Academic Affairs

Published

5 hours ago

July 22, 2024

Mak Editor

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, The Academic Registrar, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Academic Registrar, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi has been appointed Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Makerere University, for a period of six (6) months effective 11^th July 2024 to 10^th January 2025 or until a substantive First Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) is appointed whichever comes earlier.

He is a Professor of Forestry Resource Economics and served as the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Makerere University from 2014 to October 2022. Buyinza holds a PhD in Forest Economics from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta Indonesia. He holds a number of professional enhancement certificates and Diplomas.

As Director DRGT he was charged with the oversight responsibility of all institutional research grants and graduate training in the university. Prof Buyinza served as the Deputy Director in Charge of Administration and Graduate Training (2010 – 2013); Head, Department of Community Forestry and Extension, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Resources (2003 – 2005, 2008-2010) at Makerere University. Buyinza grew though the University ranks from a Tutorial Assistant (1993 – 1998) at Gajah Mada University, Indonesia to becoming a Lecturer (1999); Senior Lecturer (2004); Assoc. Professor (2007) and Full Professor (2010) at Makerere University. He has over 20 years experience of University research and teaching in the field of Forestry and Natural Resource Economics. He has successfully supervised over 50 MSc. and 10 PhD students in the fields of forestry, environment and natural resources. He has also acted as an external examiner in many regional and international universities. He is a member of many professional bodies and served as the Chairperson, Board of Directors of the National Forestry Authority (2007 – 2013). He was the Institutional Focal person (2010-2022) and Chair of the Board of Management of the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA), 2014 – 2018.

Buyinza has published widely in the field of forest resource economics, environmental incomes, economics of biodiversity conservation, and Environmental Incomes for Rural Income and livelihoods. He has authored more than 150 papers in International peer-reviewed referred journals, 4 book Chapters, attended more than 70 conference proceedings and has presented in more than 140 conferences/seminars/workshops.

Buyinza has built a very strong international network of collaborations in research administration and has tremendous capacity for resource mobilization. He has been Principal investigator (PI) of 15 research projects and as Co-Principal Investigator in many other institutional research grants. He is the Coordinator of various externally funded research capacity building initiatives at Makerere University. He has a wealth of research management experience with special focus on in the field of natural resources economics, and environmental governance.

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Advert: Mature Age Entry Scheme – Private Sponsorship 2024/2025

Published

5 days ago

July 17, 2024

Mak Editor

Students sit for an exam in the pre-COVID era, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications for the Undergraduate
Programmes under the Mature Age Entry Scheme only for Private Sponsorship for
2024/2025 Academic Year.
Non-Refundable Application fee of Shs. 50,000/= for Ugandans OR $75 Equivalent for
Internationals, plus bank charge should be paid in any of the banks used by Uganda
Revenye Authority after generating a Payment Reference Number (PRN).

Apply using the Institution’s Applications Portal URL:https: //apply.mak.ac.ug
Application is for candidates who passed the Mature Age Entry Examinations of December 17, 2022 and February 24, 2024 only.
Any candidate who passed the examinations in mentioned above and was not admitted on Government/ Private sponsorship for December 17, 2022 sitting, and for Government sponsorship for February 24, 2024 sitting, is eligible to apply for admission on Private Sponsorship for 2024 /2025 Academic Year.

The closing date for applying will be Friday 26th July, 2024.

Further details can be accessed by following this link.

Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

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Diploma/Degree Holders Admission Lists 2024/25

Published

6 days ago

July 16, 2024

Mak Editor

Main Library, Makerere University. Photo taken on 29th February 2016.

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Diploma/Degree Holder applicants admitted under Private/Self Sponsorship for the academic year 2024/25. Please note that admission is subject to verification of academic documents by the awarding institutions.

The admission list is displayed here below:

Mak-Undergraduate-Admissions-DIPLOMA-DEGREE-PRIVATE-SCHEME-2024-2025 Download