The College of Health Sciences (CHS) organized a Quality Assurance (QA) training on Monday 19^th June 2023. The purpose of this training was to promote a Quality Assurance culture in the College of Health Sciences, and create awareness on quality assurance mechanisms and practices among the Staff.

Among the facilitators were Dr. Cyprian Misinde (Director, Quality Assurance), who presented about the role of the Quality Assurance and Gender Committee, Dr. Famba Pakoyo (Dean, School of Health Sciences), who represented the Principal, College of Health Sciences, Prof. Damalie Nakanjako and presented about the importance of Curriculum/programme review. Irene Rebecca Namatende presented about the status of Quality Assurance at CHS and its benefits to teaching, learning, research, innovations and community service. Mr. Eric Tumwesigye presented about the goal of the Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Programme and Dr. Henry Kajumbula presented on quality assurance in laboratories.  One of the participants affirmed that the training was timely amongst the staff of the College of Health Sciences.

Highlights of Presentations

The role of the Quality Assurance & Gender Committee (Dr. Cyprian Misinde)

1. To promote the University quality culture within the College/School/Institute
2. To establish and monitor quality standards and practices
3. Review and evaluate Quality Assurance Systems and procedures
4. Attend to specific recommendations from UQAC on Quality Assurance issues
5. To handle irregularities issues of staff and students
6. Link up with the QA

Status of Quality Assurance at CHS (Irene Rebecca Namatende)

Irene presented about the inception of quality assurance and the role of the QA Office at CHS.

• Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement in the college.
• Monitoring teaching and learning at every beginning of semester.
• Carry out assessments. i.e., online student assessment, self-assessment, peer review, etc.
• Support the office of the Principal in compiling Annual reports
• Developing key performance indicators in all the CHS departments/ units.
• Secretariat to the CHS Quality Assurance and Gender Committee among others.
• Secretariat to the CHS Strategic Planning Committee.

Benefits of QA

Increasing stakeholder satisfaction, enhancing the college efficiency in teaching, learning and research.

Importance of curriculum Review (Dr. Pakoyo F. Kamba)

World is constantly changing

• Maintain relevance of academic programmes for the job market
• Incorporation new knowledge areas/recent scientific developments
• Compliance with prevailing trends, e.g.
  • Innovations in teaching and learning
  • Gender equality.
  • Sexual and gender-based violence
  • Environmental responsiveness
  • Policy changes e.g., Anti-homosexuality law
  • Competence-based education, problem-based learning
  • IT revolution, including advent of Internet.
  • Genomics revolution
  • International harmonization, e.g., EAC

The Gender Mainstreaming Programme (Mr. Eric Tumwesigye)

Goal of the Mak GMP

To promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Makerere University and beyond.

The mandate of Mak GMP

To mainstream gender in all the functions of the University, namely: Teaching and Learning; Research and Innovations; Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Networking and Support Services.