MBI graduates lead in job creation
Aug 28, 2007
There is a lot of doubt about the ability of many tertiary institutions to equip their students with practical skills. One institution has, however, proved itself capable of training its students to create jobs.
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
There is a lot of doubt about the ability of many tertiary institutions to equip their students with practical skills. One institution has, however, proved itself capable of training its students to create jobs.
Makerere Business Institute (MBI) has for the last 14 years tailored its courses to hands-on practical skills development. Today it is highly recognised as one of the producers of top graduates; people that use their knowledge and skills to start up income-generating projects.
A study by the Makerere Institute of Social Research showed that up to 32% of MBI graduates are self employed, making it the leading institution producing job-creators rather than job-seekers in Uganda.
It is followed by Islamic University of Uganda at 18% and Makerere University and Mbarara university of Science and Technology with 8% and 2%, respectively.
The study was conducted on behalf of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in collaboration with the centre for higher education policy studies of Twente University in the Netherlands.
The same study indicated that MBI also leads in imparting entrepreneurial skills to its students at 48.4%, followed by Islamic University In Uganda at 43.4%, while Mbarara university of Science and Technology and Makerere University are at 42.8% and 30.8%, respectively.
This performance, according to Nathan Twesigye, the MBI principal, is attributed to the institution’s dedication to providing holistic education.
It is therefore, little wonder that the institute has become the first private tertiary institution be registered and classified by the National Council for Higher Education.
“This means that its qualifications are equivalent in merit to those offered by public tertiary institutions and other classified training centres.â€
“Its diplomas can be used for admission to universities just like those from government tertiary institutions,†Arthur Muguzi, a council official explained.
Of the 137 private tertiary institutions in the country, only MBI is classified while 17 have provisional licenses. This means they still have some conditions to fulfill before they can be classified.
MBI was established in 1993 by a group of enterprising young university graduates. It started as a coaching centre for business students from different institutions.
The school eventually started admitting students. It started with only 40 students. Over the years, the number has increased to about 500 students and 20 staff.
It is registered and classified by the ministry of Education and sports under reference ME/22/1024 and registration number PBI/M/68.
“The Council visited MBI and assessed its suitability for the certificate of registration and classification. Several meetings were held both at the institute and Councils’ offices reviewing MBI’s management, courses, financial management and infrastructure.â€
“Having satisfied the Council on all these issues, at its 12th meeting, a certificate of registration and classification was granted to MBI,†says Arthur Muguzi, the NCHE financial officer.
“He says MBI, therefore, a fully fledged private business training institution whose academic qualifications are recognised worldwide.
Besides being a professional business examination centre for the national diploma and certificates examined by the Uganda National Examinations Board, MBI is also a national centre for overseas professional examinations such as Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and Business Information Systems.
The institute offers diploma courses in various business fields as well as in journalism and communication. According to the National Curriculum Development Centre: “The syllabi take into account the dynamics of business opportunities and offer new dimensions to the nation’s economic development.â€
The institute draws its students from East, Central and the Horn of Africa. Initially housed in rented apartments in Makerere, the institute acquired a permanent home on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road in 1998.
Housed in a two-storey structure, the institute has spacious lecture rooms, computer laboratories and libraries. There is no doubt it is a flag-bearer in the provision of hands-on skills.
There is a lot of doubt about the ability of many tertiary institutions to equip their students with practical skills. One institution has, however, proved itself capable of training its students to create jobs.
Makerere Business Institute (MBI) has for the last 14 years tailored its courses to hands-on practical skills development. Today it is highly recognised as one of the producers of top graduates; people that use their knowledge and skills to start up income-generating projects.
A study by the Makerere Institute of Social Research showed that up to 32% of MBI graduates are self employed, making it the leading institution producing job-creators rather than job-seekers in Uganda.
It is followed by Islamic University of Uganda at 18% and Makerere University and Mbarara university of Science and Technology with 8% and 2%, respectively.
The study was conducted on behalf of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in collaboration with the centre for higher education policy studies of Twente University in the Netherlands.
The same study indicated that MBI also leads in imparting entrepreneurial skills to its students at 48.4%, followed by Islamic University In Uganda at 43.4%, while Mbarara university of Science and Technology and Makerere University are at 42.8% and 30.8%, respectively.
This performance, according to Nathan Twesigye, the MBI principal, is attributed to the institution’s dedication to providing holistic education.
It is therefore, little wonder that the institute has become the first private tertiary institution be registered and classified by the National Council for Higher Education.
“This means that its qualifications are equivalent in merit to those offered by public tertiary institutions and other classified training centres.â€
“Its diplomas can be used for admission to universities just like those from government tertiary institutions,†Arthur Muguzi, a council official explained.
Of the 137 private tertiary institutions in the country, only MBI is classified while 17 have provisional licenses. This means they still have some conditions to fulfill before they can be classified.
MBI was established in 1993 by a group of enterprising young university graduates. It started as a coaching centre for business students from different institutions.
The school eventually started admitting students. It started with only 40 students. Over the years, the number has increased to about 500 students and 20 staff.
It is registered and classified by the ministry of Education and sports under reference ME/22/1024 and registration number PBI/M/68.
“The Council visited MBI and assessed its suitability for the certificate of registration and classification. Several meetings were held both at the institute and Councils’ offices reviewing MBI’s management, courses, financial management and infrastructure.â€
“Having satisfied the Council on all these issues, at its 12th meeting, a certificate of registration and classification was granted to MBI,†says Arthur Muguzi, the NCHE financial officer.
“He says MBI, therefore, a fully fledged private business training institution whose academic qualifications are recognised worldwide.
Besides being a professional business examination centre for the national diploma and certificates examined by the Uganda National Examinations Board, MBI is also a national centre for overseas professional examinations such as Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and Business Information Systems.
The institute offers diploma courses in various business fields as well as in journalism and communication. According to the National Curriculum Development Centre: “The syllabi take into account the dynamics of business opportunities and offer new dimensions to the nation’s economic development.â€
The institute draws its students from East, Central and the Horn of Africa. Initially housed in rented apartments in Makerere, the institute acquired a permanent home on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road in 1998.
Housed in a two-storey structure, the institute has spacious lecture rooms, computer laboratories and libraries. There is no doubt it is a flag-bearer in the provision of hands-on skills.