Busitema links up with Indian textile institute

Busitema University and the DKTE Textile Institute of India have launched a collaboration aimed at promoting linkages for teaching, research development and outreach. It is hoped the partnership will also promote global partnership for societal transformation and sustainable development. “Busitema University’s Strategic Plan 2009/2010 to 2013/2014 stresses the need for increased collaborative linkages for teaching, research and outreach through collaboration such as that between Busitema and DKTE,” the institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Mary Okwakol said.

Personnel from the two institutions visited each other before the partnership was actualised. “The outcome of the two visits was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an Action Plan for implementing the MOU,” she said. Busitema runs a Textile and Ginning Engineering programme which expects to benefit from joint research in banana fibre, cotton development and silk and wool manufacturing. DKTE executive director, professor Chandrankant Dattatraya Kane, said that the institute is prominent for it’s work in education, training, research and consultancy.

“DKTE has been catering for the needs of the industry in India for the past 25 years. The link of the institute with industry has allowed it to carve out a niche for itself amongst reputed engineering institutes in the country,” said Professor Kane.“The institute emphasises value-based technical education to the aspirants who wish to enter the corporate world.” Busitema University is hoping the partnership will also help it progressively new technologies in teaching and learning, update infrastructural facilities and establish partnerships with industry. The Indian institute offers post graduate courses in technical and textile mills technology, research, development and consultancy.

Indian professors Patil Laxman Gurunatrao and Gudiyavar Mayesh Yallapa had a two-month teaching stint at one of Uganda’s five public universities between April 25 to June 24 during which time they examined two courses under the BSc Textile Engineering programme. Ugandan lecturers also visited the Indian institute.