Makerere want Pedagogical skills in handling external programs

EDUCATION 

Makerere University Dons have called for more training in skills of handling online programs.

"For a long period, we are supposed to keep in touch with our students through social media like WhatsApp, Facebook and sometimes through E-mail but due to challenges of COVID-19 and others associated with E-learning, much has not been done.

Most of the instructors have not undergone pedagogical skills in handling online platforms, while the existing materials is not updated and also not transformed to be online so that it can be accessed by our students while out of campus, "said Prof. Nelson Turyahabwe, the Head, Department of Extension and Innovation Studies.

While making a presentation during a webinar Meeting Prof. Turyahabwe observed that in most cases people handling such programs are not trained and students not oriented well to undertake the external programs.

The meeting organised by Makerere University's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and Michigan State University's Borlaug Higher Education for Agriculture Research and Development (BHEARD) Program with support from MSU's Global Center for Food Systems Innovation (GCFSI) was intended to launch CAES Innovation Scholars Program (CAES-ISP).

Dr. Jackeline Bonabana, the CAES-ISP Program Manager explained that the major objective of the program is to provide solutions to addressing development challenges and improve engagement and collaboration with diverse stakeholders and development partners in innovation ecosystems, using skills such as innovation mindset training, communication, and team building.

Others include creating and strengthening partnerships relevant to agricultural training, research, outreach and facilitating organizational change within CAES towards a culture of innovation to students, academic staff and top management.

"The programme is effectively preparing to produce students that are employable by preparing them in the changing international and local market trend in a country where 77% of its population is under 30 years of age, and with a youth unemployment rate of 13%.

The principal CAES Prof. Bernard Bashaasha congratulated the scholars for having been successfully selected through stringent processes.

"The outputs should be innovative since it is an innovation project, we are privileged to work with Michigan State University and we are looking forward to a lasting relationship, "he said.

Dr. Bonabana explained that CAES-ISP is an up scaled version of the USAID KSU-DANRE project being supported by USAID.

Prof. Gorettie. N. Nabanoga the Deputy Principal CAES while making a presentation titled ‘Skilling to Innovate (STI) in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences "said that the project will help in identifying skillset experiences and enabling environment to facilitate pathways for a successful innovator.

"It will nurture skills and traits that promote student innovation and faculty, nurture public-private partnerships to promote research, innovation and technology, and develop institutional frame works to encourage and foster commercialization of innovations and technologies at CAES." she said.