Connect with us

General

Makerere University continues to make good strides toward Internationalization

Published

on

By Bernard Buteera

In its quest to become a research-led university and in line with its vision 2030; a thought leader of knowledge generation for societal transformation and development, Makerere University is headed in the right direction.

Prof. Umar Kakumba (2nd Left), Prof. Justine Namaalwa (Left), Dr. Godfrey Mayende (2nd Right) and Mr. Tony Oluka (Right) during the visit at Arizona State University.
Prof. Umar Kakumba (2nd Left), Prof. Justine Namaalwa (Left), Dr. Godfrey Mayende (2nd Right) and Mr. Tony Oluka (Right) during the visit at Arizona State University.

From 11th to 15th June 2023, Prof. Umar Kakumba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, led a delegation of three members that comprised; Prof. Justine Namaalwa, the Head, of the Department of Environmental Management and Program Coordinator, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Dr. Godfrey Mayende, a lecturer at IODEL and the Project Manager, Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative, and Mr. Tonny Oluka, a member of staff from Directorate of Information & Communication Technology Support (DICTS) to a bench-marking visit at Arizona State University (ASU) in the United States of America.

Prof. Kakumba (Right) and Dr. Rosen (Left) signing the MoU between Makerere University and Arizona State University (ASU).
Prof. Kakumba (Right) and Dr. Rosen (Left) signing the MoU between Makerere University and Arizona State University (ASU).

The main purpose of the visit was to Benchmark the eLearning Ecosystem,Practices, and technologies at ASU. However, Prof. Kakumba took advantage of the visit, to initiate and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Makerere University and Arizona State University for collaboration in Research and other aspects of teaching and learning. The MoU also stipulated other key areas of collaboration;

  • The e-Learning Ecosystem at ASU
  • Enterprise Technology
  • The Multi-media Studios- Set-up and Functioning
  • The Human-centered Design Thinking Approach
  • The Services of EdPlus at ASU
  • Student Support Services
  • The Student Success Coaching Program
Prof. Kakumba (Right) and Dr. Rosen (Left) exchanging souvenirs after signing the MoU between Makerere University and Arizona State University (ASU).
Prof. Kakumba (Right) and Dr. Rosen (Left) exchanging souvenirs after signing the MoU between Makerere University and Arizona State University (ASU).

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Dr. Julia Rosen, Vice President, of Global Academic Initiatives on behalf of Arizona State University, and Prof. Umar Kakumba on behalf of Makerere University.

Mr. Tonny Oluka tours one of the Multi-media Studios at Arizona State University.
Mr. Tonny Oluka tours one of the Multi-media Studios at Arizona State University.

During the Bench-marking visit, Prof. Kakumba and his team held a number of key conversations and meetings with various members of the faculty at ASU, in which a lot of experiential sharing and learning took place. The key takeaways from the bench-marking visit include;

  • How to leverage Enterprise Technology in the University Functions/Operations = Tech-enabling.
  • EdPLus (the equivalent of IODeL) – Supports the Pedagogical aspects of Integration of Technology into teaching, learning, and research.
  • The Critical Importance of Instructional Designers, educational Multimedia Specialists, and eLearning Special Needs officers.
  • The Enterprise Technology (the equivalent of DICTS)-Supports the Digital aspects of Learning and Research.
  • Capacity Building for Staff/Onboarding Faculty for Online Teaching through a Mandatory Master class/Course = “Online Teaching Course” Can be customized for Makerere University Faculty Onboarding Students to Online learning:
  • Mandatory I CU Course: Tech-enabled Learning at Makerere University
  • Setting up cost-effective Multi-media Studios (Small and standard size)for recording online course materials. 
  • Continued Technical Support from Enterprise Technology, at Arizona State University.
One of the Multi-media studios at Arizona State University.
One of the Multi-media studios at Arizona State University.

The bench-marking visit was a step in the right direction for Makerere University in many ways, critical among them being the internalization of the University through such collaborations and signing MoUs with universities such as Arizona State University.

Bernard Buteera is the Communications Officer for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.

Mak Editor

General

Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda

Published

on

Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda. Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tufts University, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to submit abstracts for the National Symposium on:

Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda: Local Voices for Policy Impact

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Venue: Makerere University Main Hall

The symposium will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of climate-induced youth migration in Uganda, while advancing evidence-based and community-informed policy responses.

Theme: Climate-Induced Youth Migration and Urban Futures in Uganda: Evidence, Voices, and Pathways for Action

Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Submit Abstracts To: citiesofyouth@musph.ac.ug

Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to contribute research findings, case studies, policy analyses, and practice-based experiences. Abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University

Published

on

Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University. Photo: Nano Banan 2

Makerere University, in partnership with Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Independent University of Bangladesh, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Pokhara University, with funding from Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED), is implementing a project: ‘Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in LDCs (COLOCAL).

The expected outputs of the project include strengthened educational and research capacity, improved knowledge on inclusive Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Community Based Adaptation (CBA) including delivering skilled knowledge co-creators, and partnerships to support needs-driven, locally-based and contextually sensitive adaptation. The outputs are anticipated to influence policy, planning and practice around LLA and CBA through collaborative learning and knowledge translation.

In line with targets and activities for 2026/2027, COLOCAL project is offering research support for three (3) Master’s students who have completed their first academic year of taught classes at Makerere University and are interested in undertaking research under one of the following thematic areas. The students MUST have undertaken the course offered under the auspices of the project on Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development.

Requirements:

  • A first degree from a reputable university in a field related to the focus of the project
  • Ugandan citizen below 35 years
  • Good command of English (spoken and written)
  • Demonstrated interest in inclusive and climate resilient development
  • Evidence of practical experience in conducting relevant research during and after undergraduate level
  • Evidence of full payment of all university fees for the first academic year
  • The Masters programme being undertaken MUST have explicit content on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Special consideration will be given to students with disabilities, financial challenges, students from ethnic minority groups, internally displaced students, among others

Scholarship and study/research conditions

Availability to complete all research activities in a maximum of 10 months.

Scope of the scholarship

The project will specifically cover stipends and support for field activities only. Support with tuition fees, for the research year, will be provided for students who will complete and submit the research thesis for examination within 10 months from the date of receiving the scholarship offer letter.

How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit the following documents: Application letter, research concept note of not more than 2 pages, academic transcripts/certificates, an updated CV (including contacts of at least two referees) and two recommendation letters.

Send applications via email to: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug, not later than 20th May, 2026. This contact can as well be used for inquiries, where necessary.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert

Published

on

Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

The Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Limited implemented a Gates Foundation training program dubbed “Principle of Management Excellence for Research training” PRIMER in francophone countries, namely, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This training was delivered by content experts and experienced practitioners, not professionally trained experts. As such, limiting the quality of slide decks, which were largely fragmented with text rather than graphical and infographic elements that suit a mature audience. To effectively deliver a research training program, advanced, engaging, and efficient tools are critical for fostering audience engagement and participation, and for learning and assessment in research management excellence. To achieve this, IDI seeks to hire an expert to:

  1. design and deliver a set of integrated advanced slide decks combining text, visual learning materials (graphical and infographics) and case scenarios
  2. develop a virtual bilingual community learning platform (VBCLP), i.e. with in-built French and English to engage alumni,
  3. develop and automate a pre-course assessment system that potential trainees fill out, and it automates results that are presented in statistical form for easy interpretation and decision making.

Details: https://shorturl.at/Rzn8d

Apply to: EAkankwasa@idi.co.ug

Deadline: 5 June 2026, 5 PM EAT

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

Trending