'Innovation must be at heart of our higher education system' — Prof Okwakol

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 7TH ANNUAL HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE 

📍 Acholi Inn, Gulu City
🗓️ March 23-24, 2026

The 7th Annual Higher Education Conference, 2026 got under way on Monday at Acholi Inn in Uganda's northern city of Gulu.

Organised by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), the two-day conference has drawn around 250 participants and is themed 'Harnessing Innovation in Higher Education for Accelerated Economic Transformation'.

The participants include representatives of higher education institutions, researchers, subject matter experts, regulators, education development partners, private sector and policymakers/government.

Justice minister and Laroo–Pece Division MP-elect Norbert Mao opened the conference as the chief guest.

Among those in attendance was Dr Monica Musenero, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovations, and NCHE chairperson Prof. Joy Kwesiga.

In her remarks, NCHE executive director Prof Mary Okwakol said that nations that have achieved rapid transformation have done so by investing in new knowledge, fostering creativity, and translating ideas into practical solutions that improve productivity and livelihoods.

She offered examples of such countries, including South Korea where 69% of its population has completed higher education. 

"They have leveraged higher education to drive technological innovation, skilled workforce development and knowledge based economic growth. Innovation drives industrialization, enhances competitiveness of countries, and creates opportunities for inclusive growth," said Okwakol (pictured below).

She underlined that innovation must be at the heart of our higher education system.  

"The responsibility lies with all of us to ensure higher education becomes a catalyst for economic transformation."  

Below is Okwakol's full speech: 👇🏽
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❝Our Chief Guest, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs,
Hon Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovations,
Hon. Members of Parliament present,
Officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports present,
Chairperson and Members of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE),
Members of NCHE Management,
Vice Chancellors and Principals present,
Staff of NCHE,
Distinguished Researchers and Innovators,
Development Partners, 
Members of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.

It is my honour and privilege to welcome you all to the the 7th Annual Higher Education Conference convened under the theme “Harnessing Innovations in Higher Education for Accelerated Economic Transformation”. In a special way I welcome you our Chief Guest and sincerely thank you for honouring our invitation despite your very busy schedule.

Thank you very much Honourable Minister.

I acknowledge, with appreciation, the attendance of Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation who has kindly accepted to deliver a keynote address.

The conference brings together legislators, Vice Chancellors, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, regulators and partners whose attendance we value. I extend our  gratitude to Keynote Speakers, Session Chairpersons and Presenters for accepting to play those important roles. Your presence (everyone) underscores a shared commitment to advancing higher education as a driver of national and regional development.

Honourable Minister, I have the pleasure to inform you that the Higher Education Week is an annual event on the NCHE calendar. It comprises a conference such as this one, you are about to open, followed by an exhibition which will be opened on Thursday at Gulu University. The conference provides a platform for the dissemination of research outputs from institutions of higher learning.

In 2024, NCHE adopted the rotation of the Higher Education Week across the regions of the country.  This is the 3rd Higher Education Week to be conducted outside Kampala, the first one having been held in Mbale in 2024 and the second in Mbarara last year. The rotation aims at ensuring equitable access to information about opportunities in higher education institutions as well as enhancing countrywide visibility for the institutions.

The Higher Education Week, in addition, creates a platform for the providers of higher education to interact with other stakeholders in order to share information on matters pertaining to higher education. It also provides an opportunity for them to exchange ideas on how to bridge the gap between the lecture room and the job market.  

Guest of Honour, Ladies and Gentlemen, innovation is the cornerstone of sustainable development and economic progress.

Nations that have achieved rapid transformation have done so by investing in new knowledge, fostering creativity, and translating ideas into practical solutions that improve productivity and livelihoods. Such countries include South Korea (with 69% of its population completing higher education), Singapore, Finland, Germany and Ireland.

They have leveraged higher education to drive technological innovation, skilled workforce development and knowledge based economic growth. Innovation drives industrialization, enhances competitiveness of countries, and creates opportunities for inclusive growth.

As the National Council for Higher Education, we are actively contributing to harnessing innovation within the sub sector. We continue to strengthen quality assurance frameworks, promote digital learning, support research, and foster partnerships. Among others:

▪️ NCHE regulates innovation by embedding research and technology in its strategic goals, and by implementing its Research and Innovation policy (2019). Structurally, a Directorate of ICT, Research and Innovation is in place and is responsible for research and innovation standards.       

▪️ Furthermore, NCHE is committed to strengthening research and innovation ecosystems. We foster innovation, entrepreneurship and start-up incubators and commercialization of research outputs within institutions of higher learning.  In addition, the Uganda Higher Education Review Journal, published biannually, provides a vital platform for researchers, policy makers and academics to publish research findings on technological advancements, higher education policy, and emerging issues.  

▪️ To address digital innovation, NCHE has promoted the integration of digital technologies in teaching and learning by providing and enforcing ODeL (Open, Distance and e-Learning) guidelines and standards. These have revolutionised Uganda’s higher education by enabling rapid regulated transition to digital learning, including ensuring continuity of education during COVID-19 lock-downs. Ultimately, they led to technological infrastructure improvement in institutions and increased access to higher education.

▪️ Equally important, is industry partnership. In December 2025 NCHE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) to enhance the quality and market relevance of research and innovation.  The MoU focuses on enhancing quality and market relevance of skills, promoting research commercialisation and fostering innovation through private sector collaboration. This is significant for bridging the gap between academia and industry.

▪️ We engage in other partnerships to ensure quality assurance and promote research. A case in point is the collaboration with bodies such as the Research and Education Network of Uganda (RENU). At regional level, NCHE played a leadership role in successfully organising the 1st Regional Ministerial Conference on EACHEA, convened by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports and jointly organised by the Forum of CEOs of Higher Education Regulatory Agencies and the Inter-University Council for East Africa. It resulted in signing of a Ministerial Communique expected to catalyse regional integration of Higher Education.

▪️ NCHE prioritises accreditation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) progammes to drive industrial and technological growth, in line with national development goals. In effect this translates into driving economic transformation.

▪️ Deliberate steps towards curriculum reforms across higher education institutions have been taken by availing standards for implementing competence-based education and training (CBET) so as to equip students with practical job-ready, critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills. This aligns higher education outcomes with industry needs and encourages industry aligned innovations. Institutions have been instructed to ensure that all academic programmes intended for first year student intake in the year 2027/2028 are compliant with the NCHE CBET standards.

▪️ Last but not least, NCHE promotes capacity building by organising workshops for leaders of higher education institutions on various aspects of its regulatory mandate, including research and innovation.

Hon Minister, there is great potential and opportunities to harness innovations from higher education institutions in pathogen economy (vaccines/medications), ICT, Agriculture and manufacturing, among others, in Uganda. However, several systemic, procedural and institutional challenges make it difficult for innovators to obtain patents.

There is, therefore, urgent need for Government to intervene by addressing the challenges in order to ensure that Uganda derives maximum benefits from innovations.  

On behalf of  NCHE, I wish to thank you, Hon Minister, for the various ways in which you and your Ministry support NCHE as well as the individual Higher Education institutions to harness innovations for the benefit of the country. In addition to support related to Intellectual Property (IP) Rights, we have continually benefited from legal guidance by the Office of the Attorney General, in the course of performing our regulatory functions. Appreciation goes to the Ministry of Education and Sports for continued support to NCHE.

I extend gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for availing funds for the execution of our mandate.

I wish, in a special way, to appreciate the Council Chairperson and members for policy direction and guidance to Management.

Last but not least, I sincerely thank the NCHE family for their invaluable commitment to effective regulation of higher education - Management and staff. I wish to record appreciation to the conference organising committee, led by Dr Nora Mulira, for a job well done.

In conclusion, innovation  must be at the heart of our higher education system.  The responsibility lies with all of us to ensure higher education becomes a catalyst for economic transformation.  

I once again welcome you all and wish you fruitful discussions. I now take this opportunity to welcome the chairperson of NCHE Council to make her remarks.

Professor Mary J.N. Okwakol 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR