Higher Education Week concludes with calls for increased funding for innovation

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 HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK 

The curtains drew on this year's Higher Education Week on Saturday (March 28) with the conclusion of the 16th Uganda Higher Education Exhibition at Gulu University in Uganda's north.

It all started with the two-day 7th Annual Higher Education Conference at Acholi Inn in Gulu City, before attention shifted to three days of an engaging well-attended exhibition at Gulu University.

"I want to believe that bringing the exhibition to Gulu University is a vote of confidence on the difference efforts that this university is making," said Bardege-Layibi County MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, who was the chief guest on the closing day of the exhibition.

Himself an alumnus of Gulu University, Mapenduzi thanked Vice-Chancellor Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru and his team for "doing a commendable job" both within the university and in the surrounding community.

"About 23 years ago, I was here, at Gulu University, and that time the university was different. And after 20 years, when you come today, you see a completely different environment."

Commitment

Throughout the week, right from the conference and during the exhibition, the importance of innovation in higher education institutions was emphasized by different stakeholders. But what was stressed even more was the need increase funding to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) for the promotion of innovations.

Another reality brought to the fore is the weak linkages between universities and industry that continue to limit the translation of academic research into practical solutions for society.

In his remarks, Mapenduzi, who sits on Parliament's budget committee, committed that they will support NCHE "in making sure that more resources are allocated and innovators are promoted the more".

The legislator cited President Yoweri Museveni's meeting with the NRM Parliamentary Caucus on Friday at State House Entebbe (pictured below), where they agreed to prioritize, among other things, scientific innovation, salary enhancement for teachers and technical vocational education and training (TVET) staff.

Collaboration

"The world is growing fast and becoming more competitive. We can only, as a country, fit in that competitive environment by supporting innovation, by encouraging young people to think and work hard and become more creative," said Mapenduzi.

"So I want to thank you for creating this opportunity. I also want to thank you for creating an environment where students from secondary schools are able to come and learn and get inspiration from what the different institutions are trying to creatively work around."

On her part, NCHE executive director Prof. Mary Okwakol paid tribute to the "remarkable innovations" showcased by higher education institutions during the exhibition.

"They have had an opportunity to share knowledge and engage in meaningful dialogue on the future of higher education. The interactions made in this engagement have not only highlighted the creativity within our institutions, but also strengthened collaboration among stakeholders."

This year’s exhibition was held under the theme 'Harnessing Innovations in Higher Education for Accelerated Economic Transformation'.

It is a demonstration that higher education institutions are not only centres of learning, but also engines of national socio-economic transformation, according to Okwakol, who felt that the participating institutions showed a shared commitment to strengthening research, innovation, and knowledge transfer within the higher education system.

The presence of secondary schools at the exhibition will have been seen as equally important. 

"I encourage you to make good use of the information you have gathered here. Let it guide you in making informed decisions about your career paths and the programmes you will pursue in higher education," said the NCHE executive director.

'Continue doing more'

Meanwhile, the best performing universities at the exhibition were recognised.

Uganda Christian University (UCU) won the category of Best innovations to accelerate socio-economic transformation, followed by Mountains of the Moon University and Uganda Martyrs University in second and third, respectively.

In the category of Provisional license and other degree awarding institutions, Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services won ahead of Kumi University (second) and Equator University of Science and Technology (third).

"Thank you for making this exhibition a bit more competitive," Mapenduzi told the organisers.

He congratulated and encouraged both the winners and those who did not make the cut to continue "doing more, because as you are competing here, you are preparing this country for a better tomorrow".

Uganda Christian University

Mountains of the Moon University

Uganda Martyrs University

Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services

Equator University of Science and Technology