MUK Chancellor faces big challenge
Jul 26, 2007
Six candidates have been short-listed for the chancellorship of Makerere University. All of them are intellectuals in their own right and people of high moral integrity.
Six candidates have been short-listed for the chancellorship of Makerere University. All of them are intellectuals in their own right and people of high moral integrity.
But with the serious financial and management problems at Makerere, they will need to be good managers and accountants as well. They will also need to be people of reputable standing, able to convince and attract local and foreign donors.
The first problem they will need to resolve is the financial mess the institution finds itself in. The university started the new financial year with a budget deficit of nearly sh50b. At the same time, a report of the recent visitation committee revealed that Makerere failed to account for funds from private students, amounting to sh56b.
The committee found that Makerere had no clear internal controls and auditing procedures and no guarantee that funds were disbursed in accordance with the approved allocations to the faculties.
It further noted that the bulk of the fees from private students went into personal benefits for staff and not the general development of the university.
At all levels, it observed, only a small portion was earmarked for infrastructural development. The library was only allocated 5%.
Makerere, the report concluded, had attached more importance to money-driven quantities than quality.
The new chancellor should address all these ills by putting in place internal controls and auditing systems to minimise losses and ensure that the bulk of the money is channeled to the university core functions of academics and research.
Once known as the Harvard of Africa, Makerere has plummeted in international ranking. Indeed, many students who leave the institution do not meet the basic standards expected of university graduates.
He or she will face the difficult task of balancing quantity and quality.
To make a mark, he or she will need to set high quality standards to ensure that a degree from Makerere University is more than just a commodity.
But with the serious financial and management problems at Makerere, they will need to be good managers and accountants as well. They will also need to be people of reputable standing, able to convince and attract local and foreign donors.
The first problem they will need to resolve is the financial mess the institution finds itself in. The university started the new financial year with a budget deficit of nearly sh50b. At the same time, a report of the recent visitation committee revealed that Makerere failed to account for funds from private students, amounting to sh56b.
The committee found that Makerere had no clear internal controls and auditing procedures and no guarantee that funds were disbursed in accordance with the approved allocations to the faculties.
It further noted that the bulk of the fees from private students went into personal benefits for staff and not the general development of the university.
At all levels, it observed, only a small portion was earmarked for infrastructural development. The library was only allocated 5%.
Makerere, the report concluded, had attached more importance to money-driven quantities than quality.
The new chancellor should address all these ills by putting in place internal controls and auditing systems to minimise losses and ensure that the bulk of the money is channeled to the university core functions of academics and research.
Once known as the Harvard of Africa, Makerere has plummeted in international ranking. Indeed, many students who leave the institution do not meet the basic standards expected of university graduates.
He or she will face the difficult task of balancing quantity and quality.
To make a mark, he or she will need to set high quality standards to ensure that a degree from Makerere University is more than just a commodity.