A delegation from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited Makerere University on Tuesday 5^th July 2022. The delegation was led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs (DVCAA), Prof. Robert Kinyua who was accompanied by Prof. Daniel Sila, the Dean School of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Prof. Stephen Kimani, an Associate Professor in School of Computing and Information Technology; Associate Professor Shohei Aoki (JICA expert) from the Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Ms. Mai Toda Nakano, the JICA Project Coordinator/Higher Education and Research Institution Network based at JKUAT.

The visitors were received by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration (DVCFA) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe who was represented by Prof. Tonny Oyana, the Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS). The Director, Directorate of Research and Gradate Training, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza gave a brief on Makerere University, highlighting that the institution is celebrating 100 years of existence this year.

“Currently, we have a student population of approximately 40,000; 32,000 undergraduate and 8,000 postgraduate. Unlike previous intakes, the number of postgraduate students admitted has increased as Makerere is now working towards becoming a research-led university, cognizant that it is these students who drive the research agenda. We now graduate about 100 PhDs every year and all disciplines are represented. Makerere has about 1,500 academic staff of whom 80% have PhDs” remarked Prof. Buyinza.

The visiting DVCAA Prof. Kinyua thanked the hosts for the warm welcome and informed the DVCFA that they were here to work together with Makerere University with support from JICA through the project Africa-ai-Japan, which is based at their university. JKUAT had done a lot of research with other universities and organizations. Established in 1994, JKUAT currently has 5 Colleges with the core mandate of training in Agriculture and Engineering. JKUAT has a student population of 3,500 and 1,000 teaching staff with 200 part-time staff.

JKUAT houses the Pan African University, Institute of Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) which is a hub for education and research in Science, Technology and Innovation through collaboration with communities, industries and higher education institutions in Africa.

Ms. Mai Toda informed the hosts that the Africa-ai-Japan project was founded on four pillars namely; 1) Capacity Development through skills development and trainings 2) Enhancement of the Research environment with modernization of equipments for research 3) Dissemination of research outputs through seminars and conferences and 4) international linkages. JICA supports wholesome prototype development that entails modeling, design and prototyping.

JICA is supporting JKUAT and PAUSTI through employing modern technologies in developing African indigenous knowledge and wisdom into products and services. Linkages are important when it comes to exchange of experts from other universities. Prof Sili the Dean School of Food Technology at JKUAT informed the hosts that his School started an International Masters in Food Science and is already working with Dr. Abel Atukwase, the Dean School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, Makerere University.

Prof. Kimani informed the hosts that his School of Computing was working with Dr. Engineer Bainomugisha from CoCIS in the area of Information Technology (IT) and would like to expand and strengthen this collaboration.

Dr. Shohei Aoki said that Africa-ai-Japan project was in Phase Two 2020-2025 and during this phase, they seek to have more interdisciplinary collaborations with other institutions and build synergies in the science, technology and innovations, hence the visit to Makerere, a premier university in the region. Through the project, JICA offers scholarships to staff to do PhDs in Japan and also provides state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment. Prof Kinyua emphasized the need to widen the network and share infrastructure and resources for the benefit of both institutions. He proposed that activities such as joint application for funding for research grants and infrastructure be undertaken.

Makerere is well endowed and rich in all disciplines. The University is investing more in research to build capacity to solve national and regional problems. Over the last two decades, Makerere has been involved with the Swedish government in the area of capacity building where students and staff have received support to do Masters and PhDs through the Swedish International Cooperation Agency –SIDA.

The Acting DVCFA, Prof. Oyana expressed his excitement at the prospect of a tripartite collaboration with JICA and JKUAT. He concluded that the way forward would be to initiate a Memorandum of Understanding outlining how the three parties would work together; defining the roles of each party in the agreement, areas of collaboration and the time frame within which to collaborate. He proposed that signing of the tripartite agreement be undertaken as part of the climax of Makerere‘s year-long centenary celebrations scheduled for October 2022. Implementation would then commence after October.

Writer:  Martha Muwanguzi, Head-Mak International Office