On Thursday 24^th April 2025, the Director of the Institute of Open, Distance and E-learning under the College of Education and External Studies presented the dissemination results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative at Makerere University to over 75 participants and key stakeholders.

The dissemination brought on board Members of Makerere University Management, the Principal and staff from College of Education and External Studies (CEES), a representative from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), student leaders, 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 dissemination of results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative follows the successful conclusion of the implementation process that kicked off in 2021 and ended in 2024. Phase 1 of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning initiative has been implemented by the Institute of Open, Distance and E-learning (IODEL) in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs).

Addressing the participants, the Director of IODEL and the Principal Investigator, Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda stated that the overarching goal of phase 1 was to enhance the e-learning capabilities with partner institutions. He elaborated that in phase 1, the Mastercard Foundation worked with 10 universities to digitally transform the teaching and learning processes.

“During the implementation of Phase 1, Makerere University has 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,” said Prof. Birevu Muyinda.

Phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative provided a platform to strengthen the existing Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE), onboarding of the University leadership, staff and students for the successful implementation of e-Learning initiative, capacity building for staff and students, and involvement of the teaching staff to develop content for online courses.

During the e-Learning Digital Transformation Workshop, Prof. Birevu Muyinda shared the dissemination results of phase 1 of the e-Learning initiative amidst applause from the participants, highlighting the following achievements:

• 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.

Presenting the lessons learned, Prof. Birevu Muyinda informed the participants that top management support significantly contributed to the successful implementation of the program.

On this note, Prof. Birevu Muyinda acknowledged the University Council, the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), the Academic Registrar, the University Secretary, DICTS and the entire leadership at the different levels for the support rendered in the execution of the different activities of phase 1.

In appreciation, Prof. Birevu Muyinda requested the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, and the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi to convey the message of gratitude to the Top University Management and Central University Management respectively.

Underscoring top management support as a pre-condition for successful digital transformation, he provided a detailed account of the lessons learned in Phase 1. These include:

• Co-creation: Course co-creation breeds ownership and effective utilization
• Learning Designers: Learning designers are necessary for the pedagogical design of e-Courses
• Infrastructure: A robust integrated institutional, staff and students’ infrastructure is vital for successful e-Learning ecosystem
• Capacity building: Inclusive capacity building for staff and students is essential for successful digital transformation
• Multi-media Studios: Video content enhances flipped classroom pedagogy. This requires the setup of cost-effective multi-media studios operated by multi-media specialists who also provide ongoing technical support and capacity building
• Pedagogical Building Design: The design of new buildings in the University should take into consideration all pedagogical and inclusivity requirements
• Inclusivity: All courses should be designed following the universal design for learning principles
• Student Support: The success of online courses heavily relies on well structured student support offered by the University (coaches, mentors, facilitators, technicians, career guidance, counsellors) among others
• Central Unit: There should be a central unit (similar to Arizona State University-ASU’s EdPlus) to foresee the design, development and growth of digital and innovative pedagogy in the University
• Design thinking: There is need to use design thinking approaches in digital transformation processes in the University
• Partnerships: There is need to optimize collaborations for institutional growth

Background to Phase 1

The e-Learning Initiative is a program funded by Mastercard Foundation out of the need to address the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that constrained access and continuity of teaching, learning and community engagement activities at Makerere University.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the teaching and learning in a number of universities in Africa. As the pandemic intensified, the World Health Organisation and the respective countries issued Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) which limited physical interactions, gatherings and restricted movements. In extreme cases, the respective governments declared a lockdown to reduce the spread of the deadly pandemic. The lockdowns affected a number of Universities, higher education institutions and schools that had to stop operations, close and send students home in order to save lives.

Makerere University continued to conduct online teaching and learning aided by its home grown, Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE), managed by the Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning under the College of Education and External Studies.

Although MUELE enabled Makerere University to conduct online teaching during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience called for a robust approach to institutionalize MUELE and online teaching pedagogies.

In its strategic plan, Makerere University committed to providing innovative teaching and learning as well as adaptation to ICT trends. This strategic approach dictated the adoption of a blended approach towards teaching and learning. The COVID-19 period and post COVID-19 challenged Universities to come up with immediate, short-term and long-term measures to institutionalize e-Learning through onboarding of staff and students, creating content for online courses, and acquisition of the required infrastructure and equipment for e-learning.

Fortunately, the Mastercard Foundation issued a call for proposals for universities to compete for funding targeting quality delivery of and access to education during and post the COVID-19 era.

The IODEL team at Makerere University in partnership with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) seized this golden opportunity and submitted a proposal. Following the competitive processes and strict adherence to the required grant application procedures, Makerere University’s proposal was successful.

With the award of the USD 2million grant, Makerere University embarked on supporting colleges to develop high-quality content and revitalization of the Makerere University e-Learning Environment (MUELE).  The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative was officially launched on Tuesday 20^th September 2022 by Prof. Mary Okwakol, the Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) at a colourful ceremony held at Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium.