MUK must focus on research - Chancellor
Oct 26, 2009
WHILE closing the 5th Annual Makerere University College of Health Sciences Scientific Conference, the chancellor, Makerere University, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera condemned the declining professionalism in the medical field. <b>Milly Nattimba</b> talked him
WHILE closing the 5th Annual Makerere University College of Health Sciences Scientific Conference, the chancellor, Makerere University, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera condemned the declining professionalism in the medical field. Milly Nattimba talked him and below is the excerpts.
Question: In your closing speech, you talked about lack of professionalism, just how bad is the situation?
Answer: In the event of a contest, knowledge determines the winner. Professionalism is a combination of both practical and theoretical knowledge, with a component of ethical values.
Many Ugandans have changed; the old people, who have the knowledge and technical competence, have abused this knowledge and as a result, made wrong decisions. The lecturers responsible for imparting knowledge do not adhere to their teaching schedules while students do not respect the knowledge they receive. They want free grades and as a result get out of university ill-prepared.
Unfortunately, in Uganda, unlike in the U.S there are no opportunities for remedial work where practising medical doctors have to sit an examination every four years.
Could this be a problem of lack of role models?
The first role models should come from home. This is where the ethics of right or wrong should be inculcated in children. But when parents are not willing to punish children, discipline is compromised.
There is also emphasis on more money than professionalism. For instance, you hear cases of health workers insisting on payment before handling patients.
How can this challenge be overcome?
We need to destroy the weakest point in leadership. For a long time, leaders at Makerere University have not led by example. One example of good leadership is Prof. Kayanja who would teach even when he was dean and when he was deputy vice-chancellor.
I believe not all is lost; there are people out there who still have discipline and character.
There is need to institute proper systems of operation in financial management and academics. We must insist on result-oriented management and evaluate every operation that the university undertakes.
Students must evaluate their teachers’ performance; this system would eliminate the practice of students expecting free marks.
We need a Marshal Plan, where one of the key issues will be sending university staff abroad to learn from other universities and also invite outsiders to help our lecturers learn professionalism. Lecturers must also be well renumerated so they can meet the basics of life.
Over the years, performance of MUK has been deteriorating. Is it due to low research output?
During Idi Amin’s regime, knowledge, research and intellectual growth were not adequately catered for. There was no money for research; no chemicals and no water in the laboratory.
Promotions were done without research, but now things are changing. However, a number of strategies need to be refocused. For instance, instead of establishing the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), that money should have been given to Makerere University to do all the work that NARO is doing.
The Government needs to provide more funding for research development and post-graduate studies. Research funding from donors must be supplementary to the Government funds.
Credible universities have funds dedicated to research. Makerere should also allocate some money for students and staff for research. The private sector can be motivated to put in some money. For instance, Uganda Breweries can fund research in chemistry or food science; MTN can fund telecommunications research. Such funds would have to be consistent in order to benefit long-term research.
There is a lot of research in Makerere University, but the world does not know. There is need to publicise our work. The Ivory Tower idea should end; The Government should do more to interact with universities in the development of public policies.
What is your comment on the level of engagement between policy makers, communities and researchers?
First, knowledge must be generated to impact public policy. Policy that is not grounded in evidence is not progressive. For instance, the resident’s policy to stop providing meals to schools that are under the Universal Primary Education/Universal Secondary Education Schemes is not based on any research. When a child is denied a warm nutritious meal, this has impact on the child’s learning.
Question: In your closing speech, you talked about lack of professionalism, just how bad is the situation?
Answer: In the event of a contest, knowledge determines the winner. Professionalism is a combination of both practical and theoretical knowledge, with a component of ethical values.
Many Ugandans have changed; the old people, who have the knowledge and technical competence, have abused this knowledge and as a result, made wrong decisions. The lecturers responsible for imparting knowledge do not adhere to their teaching schedules while students do not respect the knowledge they receive. They want free grades and as a result get out of university ill-prepared.
Unfortunately, in Uganda, unlike in the U.S there are no opportunities for remedial work where practising medical doctors have to sit an examination every four years.
Could this be a problem of lack of role models?
The first role models should come from home. This is where the ethics of right or wrong should be inculcated in children. But when parents are not willing to punish children, discipline is compromised.
There is also emphasis on more money than professionalism. For instance, you hear cases of health workers insisting on payment before handling patients.
How can this challenge be overcome?
We need to destroy the weakest point in leadership. For a long time, leaders at Makerere University have not led by example. One example of good leadership is Prof. Kayanja who would teach even when he was dean and when he was deputy vice-chancellor.
I believe not all is lost; there are people out there who still have discipline and character.
There is need to institute proper systems of operation in financial management and academics. We must insist on result-oriented management and evaluate every operation that the university undertakes.
Students must evaluate their teachers’ performance; this system would eliminate the practice of students expecting free marks.
We need a Marshal Plan, where one of the key issues will be sending university staff abroad to learn from other universities and also invite outsiders to help our lecturers learn professionalism. Lecturers must also be well renumerated so they can meet the basics of life.
Over the years, performance of MUK has been deteriorating. Is it due to low research output?
During Idi Amin’s regime, knowledge, research and intellectual growth were not adequately catered for. There was no money for research; no chemicals and no water in the laboratory.
Promotions were done without research, but now things are changing. However, a number of strategies need to be refocused. For instance, instead of establishing the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), that money should have been given to Makerere University to do all the work that NARO is doing.
The Government needs to provide more funding for research development and post-graduate studies. Research funding from donors must be supplementary to the Government funds.
Credible universities have funds dedicated to research. Makerere should also allocate some money for students and staff for research. The private sector can be motivated to put in some money. For instance, Uganda Breweries can fund research in chemistry or food science; MTN can fund telecommunications research. Such funds would have to be consistent in order to benefit long-term research.
There is a lot of research in Makerere University, but the world does not know. There is need to publicise our work. The Ivory Tower idea should end; The Government should do more to interact with universities in the development of public policies.
What is your comment on the level of engagement between policy makers, communities and researchers?
First, knowledge must be generated to impact public policy. Policy that is not grounded in evidence is not progressive. For instance, the resident’s policy to stop providing meals to schools that are under the Universal Primary Education/Universal Secondary Education Schemes is not based on any research. When a child is denied a warm nutritious meal, this has impact on the child’s learning.