Clarke University injects sh1b in new infrastructure

Clarke International University has invested sh1.1b in its infrastructural development. Good infrastructure is one of the requirements before a university is awarded a charter.

The university will be moving to its new home soon because its founder, Dr Ian Clarke, sold most of the shares he held at International Hospital Kampala (IHK), which used to be home to the university. The university used to rent the premises, which Clarke said was untenable. 

"We have constructed phase one of the university at that magnitude of investment. This is to ensure that we meet the standards set by the Government to be able to acquire a charter," Clarke said.

Chartered universities

The chartered universities in the country include Uganda Christian University, Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Nkumba University, Kampala International University, Ndejje University, Bugema University and Bishop Stuart University. Others are Kampala University and Mountains of the Moon University. Having a charter means these universities have fulfilled the minimum acceptable requirements of a stable university.

Clarke said the university has a permanent home and is expected to satisfy the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) alongside other requirements; to be chartered. However, the university is licenced.

Other set conditions for a university to be chartered include having sufficient physical and financial resources, viable programmes, adequate qualified staff, and structures of governance to deliver quality education.

Quest for a home

Addressing journalists recently during the breaking of the ground ceremony at the university's new premises in Bukasa a suburb of Kampala city, Clarke said: "When I sold majority shares of IHK, I kept the university and continued renting space at IHK. But we want to have our own home."

Dr Rose Clarke Nanyonga, the university vice-chancellor, said for them to lead, innovate and transform, they have requested NCHE to allow them to foster online learning.

"We hope the new premises will be a place for transformation learning, teaching, research, innovations and community outreach," Nanyonga said.

Bishop Zac Niringiye, who was recently appointed as the chancellor of the university, said: "We are certainly looking at programmes that focus on critical aspects such as technology, innovation, and leadership."

Niringiye said it is vital to invest in Information and communications technology since the future is not in physical space, but the cyberspace. He said COVID-19 has been a learning point for the university and so many other people; that you can effectively achieve so much without physical space.

Acknowledging the financial hiccups associated with COVID-19, Nanyonga also said although lecturers have tried to handle online learning, it is still a challenge for many students to access the study materials.

"The students at home need financial support to be able to call, send emails and have data to access the learning packs," Nanyonga said.

She said the return of students means they will need to do remedial courses. She commended the Government for allowing universities have a phased approach of getting students back into the system.