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Makerere University’s Role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Novel Pedagogical Approach

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By Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru

Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is revolutionizing the world economy by connecting the physical, digital, and biological worlds through technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain. For a developing nation like Uganda with long-standing problems like youth unemployment and poverty, the 4IR presents a chance to bypass development phases and achieve growth that includes all segments of society. This is attainable only if education is revolutionized, particularly in the universities.

Makerere University, which is Uganda’s national university, is well poised to drive the process. If Makerere deploys a novel pedagogy model Transdisciplinary Experiential Learning Ecosystems (TELE), it will produce 4IR leaders, innovate, and tackle local issues. TELE, which is focused on transdisciplinary collaborations, experiential learning, and exosystemic relationships, can be a key enabler of Makerere and Uganda’s 4IR readiness.

Established in 1922, Makerere University has shaped leaders who have carved out the East African future. Its traditional pedagogy framework, which is grounded in silo disciplines, rote memorization, and theory-led priority, has no match to the 4IR demands. Based on the World Economic Forum, 65% of the school children today will find themselves in careers not yet thought of and which require skills such as thinking, adaptability, and being technology literate.

In Uganda, where youth are now unemployed at approximately 13% and even underemployed, the universities must prepare the graduates with the ability to be job creators as well as job seekers. 4IR’s emphasis on networked systems, such as AI and environment, climate, and policy integration, requires a different brain. TELE offers Makerere the chance to reinvent learning so that it can leverage responsiveness to 4IR as well as Uganda’s socio-economic context.

What then is TELE? Transdisciplinary Experiential Learning Ecosystems brings together three ideas: transdisciplinary learning, experiential education, and ecosystem thinking. As opposed to multidisciplinary practices that cross between disciplines, transdisciplinary extends further to build new systems of knowledge. Experiential learning emphasizes problem-solving through practice in the real world, and ecosystem thinking facilitates interdisciplinary engagement among students, lecturers, industry, communities, and government.

TELE envisions Makerere as a vibrant node where learning overflows from lecture halls into industry and society. It is grounded on 4IR-appropriate competencies, creativity, cooperation, and agility but situates education within the Ugandan situation to make it locally responsive yet globally competitive.

The TELE system is novel yet realistic. It involves building nodes transdisciplinary in nature, both physical and virtual, where scholars from every department, engineering, social sciences, medicine, arts, join in solving issues confronting the real world. As an example, a “Smart Agriculture” lab would require students to design IoT-based irrigation, soil testing, and business plans for community ownership.

Experiential learning project work would engage students in semester-long projects, e.g., urban flooding solutions in Kampala or health access in rural areas, using 4IR technologies like AI or blockchain. Ecosystem partnerships with industry (e.g., MTN Uganda), government (e.g., Ministry of ICT), and societies would collaborate to coproduce curricula and fund projects jointly. Access to 4IR tools and far-distanced collaboration would be eased by digital solutions, with restructured assessment based on portfolios instead of traditional exams.

The future potential of TELE is to empower students with capabilities to be participants in the dynamic, networked society of 4IR. 4IR dissects industry silos, therefore a programmer writing software has to learn about user psychology, a doctor must learn AI diagnostics, and a policymaker has to balance data privacy. TELE teaches transdisciplinary learning where the students learn how to address system issues.

As an example, a TELE “Digital Financial Inclusion” project would get economics, computer science, and sociology students to co-create a block chain-based microfinance platform for rural women. This creates technical skills alongside empathy and systems thinking, both of which are critical in 4IR leadership. Unpacking disciplinary silos, TELE makes graduates adaptable as well as able to innovate in Uganda’s economy.

TELE also bridges the skills gap in Uganda, one of the persistent criticisms against its education system. Its graduates lack practical skills, making them less employable. TELE’s hands-on track sidesteps this by bringing students face-to-face with getting to do actual projects. A “Renewable Energy Access” lab, for example, could involve students to design microgrids powered by the sun in off-grid villages where they have to learn about IoT sensors, negotiate with village leaders, and pitch to investors.

These exercises produce graduates with the ability to apply 4IR technologies into practice, from creating AI-powered agriculture machinery to streamlining Kampala garbage management. By linking learning with the market needs, TELE enhances employability and entrepreneurship, the key driver of Uganda’s youth employment.

TELE also positions Makerere as an innovation and entrepreneurship hub powered by 4IR. Africa is blessed with a youth bulge, which is an entrepreneurial talent treasure trove, and the 4IR is driven by innovation. TELE embeds entrepreneurship in the curriculum through ecosystem relationships that expose the students to money, mentors, and markets.

An example of a “Smart Waste Management” initiative would involve a business owned by a student using AI to reduce the cost of garbage collection in Kampala, with the backing of entities such as Safe Boda or the Kampala Capital City Authority. By transforming its culture of innovation, Makerere can unleash an 4IR-drive tsunami of startups that will drive economic growth and make Uganda one of the top technological countries in Africa.

TELE’s localized focus is in that Makerere‘s 4IR contribution draws on Uganda’s circumstances, that is, its agrarian economy, youthfulness, and infrastructural shortcomings. Although as universal as the 4IR, solutions need to be context-specific. A “Precision Agriculture” cluster can design cheap, AI-led innovations for smallholder farmers that address food insecurity and capitalize on technologies from across the world.

Localization also renders Makerere internationally recognized as a leader in implementing the 4IR within African settings. Apart from that, TELE’s digital platform is also leveling the playing field for learning by utilizing web-based modules and virtual labs to reach rural students or students unable to access conventional schooling, as per the 4IR slogan of inclusivity.

Initiating TELE requires visionary and risk-taking leaders. Makerere can begin with a pilot, with two transdisciplinary institutions e.g., “Smart Cities” and “Digital Health” with 50 students each, backed by faculty staff and industry players. Curriculum would include TELE projects, accrediting short courses and experiential learning in 4IR skills such as coding or AI ethics. Partnership with Google Africa would offer finance and skills, with support from digital infrastructure such as a virtual 4IR Lab enabling virtual learning. Next, Makerere would move to the phase where there would be replicated centers, the faculty trained in transdisciplinary practice, and cutting-edge policy reform to embrace TELE-based evaluations as a vehicle for inducing long-term sustainability.

Makerere University stands at a crossroads. The 4IR requires a new kind of graduate who is flexible, creative, and can handle complex systems. With the adoption of Transdisciplinary Experiential Learning Ecosystems, Makerere can re-engineer its pedagogy to meet these needs in order to prepare graduates to drive Uganda’s 4IR. TELE focus on transdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and ecosystem partnerships aligns with bridging the skills gap, encouraging entrepreneurship, and domesticating foreign technologies. While Uganda seeks to capitalize on the 4IR to achieve inclusive growth, Makerere‘s embrace of TELE can also position it as a beacon for innovation inspiration in Africa, whose destiny to learn maps the course into progress and prosperity.

Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru is a Doctoral Student at College of Education and External Studies, at Makerere University.

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Education

Trump vs. Harvard: A Threat to Academic Freedom Driving African Students to China

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Harvard Business School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Source: Faith Ninivaggi

By Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru

The escalating fight between veteran US President Donald Trump and the powerful American institutions like Harvard University is politics, it’s bare-faced incursion into intellectual freedom that can reshape the international world of higher education, particularly for Africans. The latest “scandal,” Trump’s combative condemnation of colleges as liberal ideological hotbeds, amplified by legal intimidation and political retaliation against colleges like Harvard, is damaging America’s international reputation as the academic gold standard. Unless the trend continues, African scholars have long regarded American colleges as embodiments of intellectual liberty will seek further afield, such as China’s Tsinghua University, and redefine the landscape of scholarship.

Trump himself, bloated-check on his 2024 campaign and beyond, denounces elite universities as “woke” indoctrination centers. Demands to defund universities, ideological segregation, and laser-beam focus on diversity programs have chilled the atmosphere. Harvard, already on trial for affirmative action and accused of suppressing conservative thinking, is under greater scrutiny than ever. The Trump-endorsed Supreme Court win in 2023 over the case against racially discriminatory admissions, as a triumph for Trump and his faithful, has been exerting political pressure on institutions to fall in line. Politicization is destroying the very essence of intellectual freedom: freedom to pursue truth through means of open-ended inquiry, unhampered by interference.

For African students, it is shattering the American academic dream. America has been the preferred destination of African Muslims for many years, with 400,000 or more African students enrolled in American universities by 2023. Harvard stands for hope, intellectual activism, and interdependence worldwide. But when academic freedom is attacked, either in Muslim nations by executive fiat or group demonization, students question the system. The image of American universities as payoff politics centers rather than temples of knowledge is a great discourager.

Take the case of China, which has placed its universities at the world map. Tsinghua University, affectionately referred to as “China’s MIT,” features among the top 20 universities in the world with state-of-the-art research in AI, engineering, and global governance. China’s Belt and Road initiative has already prompted scholarship collaborations with Africa, awarding more than 50,000 African students scholarship annually. China provides an open alternative to America, in which political anti-foreigner prejudice and visa controls have tightened but in which Tsinghua’s insistence upon technical discipline and non-Western-inspired political scandal-mongering offers a sanctuary to those denied security and possibility.

Life for African students is a game. If the shine fades from American campuses, Nigerian, Kenyan, or Ghanaian students may be lured by the more appealing prospect of subsidized campuses and meritocratic competition culture of Tsinghua. Chinese universities, though not inexpensive, are another deal: intellectual seriousness untainted by ideational competition distorting American campuses. To Africans bureaucratically and financially strained in America, China’s streamlined visa process and subsidized schooling are appealing. Tsinghua welcomed 20% more African applicants in 2024, and the figures can only go up if America’s learning environment deteriorates.

This has far-reaching implications. Chinese-educated Africans will increasingly adopt the Beijing approach to geopolitics, enhancing China’s soft power in Africa. America will lose the intellectual and cultural capital that it has gained through decades of exportation of Africa’s best and brightest for studies in its institutions. Harvard-educated African leaders have led the innovation and governance driver in the continent; a transition to Tsinghua would funnel those networks into China’s quarter. In order to ensure academic freedom and global competitiveness, America should not politicize its colleges and universities. Institutional autonomy must be upheld by academics and legislative members in a situation where scholarship, rather than ideology, is the basis of higher education. For the students from Africa, the consequence is ominous: college selection not only determines their future but that of the continent. And if the Trump-Harvard soap opera continues chewing away at American scholarship’s trust factor, Tsinghua’s gates will swing wider and wider, and Africa’s best and brightest will walk through them with the U.S. in their rearview mirror.

About the Author

Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru is a Doctoral Student at East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Eutychus Ngotho Gichuru is a Doctoral Student at East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University.

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Admission List to Bachelor of Education External (BED) 2025/26 -Private Sponsorship

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released the admission list of Diploma holders provisionally admitted to Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL) programme under Private Sponsorship for the Academic Year 2025/2026 pending verification of their academic documents by the awarding institutions.

The List can be accessed by following the link below:

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Makerere University embarks on developing e-Learning Digital Transformation Roadmap

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The Ag. DVCAA-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (2nd Left), Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda (Left) and other stakeholders pose for a group photo at the dissemination event on 24th April 2025. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Makerere University has been selected to participate in Phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative aimed at the development of a five-year digital pedagogy transformation roadmap (2025-2030).

This noble task championed by the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) through its expert team at the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) will shape the future of e-learning and digital education in Uganda.

In phase 2, the Mastercard Foundation commits to supporting e-Learning and digital transformation based on the needs of each institution. Makerere University’s consideration for Phase 2 follows the successful implementation of phase 1 of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative (2021-2024), which registered remarkable achievements.

‘In a bid to consolidate the gains of phase 1 and transition into a digitally resilient and learner-centred institution, Makerere University has been selected to participate in phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative. Led by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), phase 2 aims to support partner universities in designing and implementing a five-year digital pedagogy transformation roadmap (2025-2030),” highlighted Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Director of IODeL.

Speaking at the co-creation workshop held on 24th April 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Prof. Birevu Muyinda said: “During phase 1, Makerere University registered significant achievements in e-Learning. I am glad that you have convened here today during the e-Learning Digital Transformation workshop, to receive the dissemination results as we work together to prepare for phase 2, which focuses on the unique needs for each institution.”

Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda presents the findings. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda presents the findings.

Through phase 1, which aimed at enhancing the e-learning capabilities of partner institutions, Makerere University strengthened the existing Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE), conducted onboarding workshops for the university leadership, trained teaching staff and students, and engaged teaching staff to develop content for online courses.

According to Prof. Birevu Muyinda, the specific achievements of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative included the following:

  • Training of 1,280 faculty members
  • Development of 2,579 courses out of 2,560 representing 100.74%
  • Development of four (4) support services modules
  • Capacity building for over 7,000 students
  • Training and recruitment of 32 e-Learning champions
  • Upgrading of the Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE)
  • Acquisition of e-Learning infrastructure namely five (5) multi-media studios, a video streaming server and all in one printers.

The co-creation workshop for phase 2 and dissemination of results for the concluded phase 1, brought on board over 75 participants comprising members of Makerere University Management, the Principal and staff of the College of Education and External Studies, a representative from the Ministry of Education and Sports, student leaders, the media, the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University(ASU)-USA, and a representative sample of staff from academic and administrative units of Makerere University.

The co-creation guide. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The co-creation guide.

Facilitated by Arizona State University (ASU) working closely with IODeL, the interactive co-creation sessions involved taking into account the milestones from phase 1 and leveraging the successes, as well as coming up with proposed strategies for phase 2.

The co-creation workshop involved understanding the concept transformation road mapping, using a grid to identify the current state of e-Learning and digital transformation at Makerere University and the desired state, assessment alignment on shared vision for the current and the desired state, and identifying learner needs in line with the desired state, among other items.

The workshop adopted a holistic approach to digital transformation focusing on the following themes: teaching and learning, student services, instructional infrastructure, leadership and culture, and partnerships. For each cluster, the participants proposed immediate, short-term and long-term strategies with respect to digital transformation in those processes. With each group presenting during the plenary sessions, the co-creation workshop was a success. The ideas were captured instantly feeding into the proposal for the phase 2 e-learning digital transformation roadmap (2025-2030).

Co-creation in progress. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Co-creation in progress.

At this highly participatory workshop, reaching consensus was a key factor in determining the ideas that were included in the proposal.

In addition to the aforementioned clusters, some of the broader aspects that the co-creation teams highlighted should be prioritized included:

  • Adoption of e-supervision of students
  • Increasing enrollment of international students through e-Learning
  • Reducing the digital divide among learners
  • Ensuring digital inclusion with programs sensitive to learners with disabilities
  • Capacity building programmes for administrative support
Co-creation in progress. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Co-creation in progress.

Opening the co-creation workshop, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Makerere University, conveyed the congratulatory messages from the University Council and Management on the successful completion of phase 1 and its remarkable achievements.

On behalf of the University Management, Prof. Buyinza said, phase 2 of the e-Learning Initiative should be a revolutionary phase, igniting Makerere University to be a key player in digital education and integration of technologies.

Reflecting on youth empowerment, Prof. Buyinza highlighted that phase 2 is student-centred with e-Learning and digital pedagogies addressing the needs of learners. In addition, Prof. Buyinza underscored that this approach will increase the number of students accessing quality education programmes at Makerere University at the national and international levels.

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (3rd Left) with a section of the audience at the dissemination. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (3rd Left) with a section of the audience at the dissemination.

The Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) commended the Mastercard Foundation for partnering with Makerere University to empower the young people through education and technological advancements. Prof. Buyinza acknowledged the collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and Arizona State University (ASU) for building the capacity of faculty at Makerere University.

Emphasizing the importance of building capacity, retooling and reshaping the curriculum to produce graduates who meet the demands of the modern workforce, Prof. Buyinza re-affirmed that Makerere University is a learning institution committed to embracing new approaches. He recognized the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) for holding onboarding workshops for the University leadership, staff and students in phase 1.

Prof. Buyinza testified that the onboarding sessions changed his perception, and transformed him into a firm believer in positioning e-Learning to champion the digital transformation agenda at Makerere University. He disclosed that he is a “convert” to the transformative potential of technology integration, learner-centeredness, industry partnerships, and lifelong learning, key features of University 5.0.

Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga contributes to the discussion. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga contributes to the discussion.

He urged participants to utilize the co-creation e-Learning digital transformation workshop to define institutional needs and expectations, allowing for a more rapid and collaborative advancement into the “revolutionary” phase 2.

Building on the Prof. Buyinza’s submission, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga informed the participants that phase 2, which focuses on e-Learning and digital transformation should empower the faculty and university at large to provide inclusive education. He implored the co-creation team and stakeholders to come up with digital strategies for students who are visually impaired and those with hearing impairments.

Prof. Mugagga emphasized the importance of continuous learning and self-examination, stating that even a professor should strive to be open to new knowledge. With reference to Socrates’ philosophy, he suggested that a life devoid of learning is not worth living.

Prof Anthony Muwagga Mugagga (3rd Left) and Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda (Leaning on table) with participants engaged in group assignments. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Prof Anthony Muwagga Mugagga (3rd Left) and Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda (Leaning on table) with participants engaged in group assignments.

In a moving testimony, the Principal explained that he is always learning new ideas from his techy savvy son. Prof. Mugagga shared that his son continues to be instrumental in teaching him online safety principles and techniques. This experience underscored the generational gap in digital literacy and the importance of adapting to the evolving digital landscape.

The Principal expressed his hope to learn from the workshop, acknowledging that digital transformation requires everyone to be proactive in acquiring new skills.

On behalf of the students, Hon. Julius Kiganda, the Minister of Academic Affairs at Makerere University commended the organisers for including students in the e-Learning digital transformation workshop. Hon. Kiganda pledged active participation in the training to ensure that the interests of the students are effectively captured.

Hon. Julius Kiganda (Right) with Dr. Harriet Nabushawo. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Hon. Julius Kiganda (Right) with Dr. Harriet Nabushawo.

Evaluating phase 1, Ann Nielsen from Mastercard Foundation recognized that the institutions had built a solid foundation, prompting a transition into phase 2 to address the unique needs of each university.

“Phase 2 will prioritize scaling training and knowledge mobilization, offering opportunities for scholars to pursue learning design and technologies, graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and professional certificates tailored for individuals seeking instructional design knowledge.

“Mastercard Foundation will emphasize inclusive learning practices, collaborating with experts to ensure accessibility and equity. The Foundation aims to enhance digital infrastructure, focusing on student support systems, quality management, and data-driven decision-making in order to meet diverse learner needs,” Nielsen explained.

Some of the facilitators from ASU. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Some of the facilitators from ASU.

The Foundation revealed that the ultimate goal is to collectively impact policies across the continent, advocating for e-learning as a valid and accredited pathway to quality education. Recognizing the network’s growing maturity, the initiative aims to position participating universities as leaders and resources, fostering collaborative learning and co-creation.

The Foundation’s participation stems from a belief in the future of young Africans, seeking to equip them with education and skills to fulfill their careers by strengthening institutions and scaling innovative solutions through technology. The focus shifts from a reactive response to a sustainable and long-term initiative.

Regan Matsiko, the IT Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to digital advancement, drawing on prior experience with the national digital transformation roadmap initiated by the Ministry of ICT. “This roadmap, built on five key pillars including digital scaling and infrastructure development, serves as a foundation for current initiatives within the education sector.”

Another group of participants engaged in group assignments. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Another group of participants engaged in group assignments.

Matsiko emphasized the Ministry of Education and Sports’ development of a digital agenda last year as demonstration of a proactive approach to integrating technology.

He commended the partnership with universities in developing e-learning programs. Matsiko noted a shift towards a more integrated structure within the Ministry, where the ICT department now includes a dedicated e-learning department working directly with university partners, demonstrating a unified push for digital transformation in education.

The voices from key stakeholders set the stage for an interactive and high participatory training session. Lara Rabala the facilitator of the training outlined the primary objectives. These included: To collaboratively envision e-learning-driven classrooms, not only for the host institution but also for external partners, aligning proposed initiatives with McKinney’s strategies and broader community programs.

She noted that a key focus will be on formulating recommendations that correspond with critical areas to drive the development of a roadmap and implementation plan. 

Facilitator Lara Rabala (standing) with participants. Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) disseminating results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa supported by Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University (ASU)-USA, to over 75 participants and key stakeholders, 24th April 2025, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Facilitator Lara Rabala (standing) with participants.

Labala stressed that the aim is to establish a clear vision for the future, crafting a transformative roadmap and a practical implementation plan. This roadmap will serve as the foundation for a tangible proposal to attract funding and partnerships, articulating the vision and direction for key learning and behavioral transformation.

Trainees were encouraged to respect the past as the foundation for the present and future, while also imagining innovative possibilities. Trainees, regardless of their expertise, were urged to maintain curiosity, open-mindedness, and value every voice. 

The co-creation sessions featured the following clusters:

  • Teaching and learning: Digital strategy, pedagogical services, faculty development and staff support
  • Student services: Engagement-enrollment, Administrative support and Academic Support
  • Instructional Infrastructure: Connectivity, Educational technology, and Instructional design learning analysis
  • Leadership and Culture: Internal stakeholders, Leadership structure, Governance models, Innovative Culture
  • Partnerships: Development, Evaluation and External Stakeholders

Closing the co-creation workshop, Prof. Birevu Muyinda said: “The exercise has presented us with an understanding of the major activities to be undertaken and the key priorities.”

With the support of the Mastercard Foundation and other partners, Makerere University is focused to develop a comprehensive e-learning roadmap, driving innovation and excellence in education.

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