Varsities operating below standard - NCHE

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) yesterday released its investigation report showing that many universities are operating below the established standards with some of them offering unrecognised academic programmes.
Others have critically low student enrolment and academic staffing levels that do not meet operational requirements.
Releasing the findings in Kampala yesterday, the acting chairperson of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), Mr Sebagala Kigozi, said during the investigations, they discovered that some universities have only 10 students on certain courses which is not economically viable, unqualified teaching staff, while others have poor structures which need upgrading

Kampala International University (western campus)
The council found that the university had undeclared affiliations with different institutions, teaching some unaccredited programmes at its western and main campuses. NCHE noted improvements in other areas.
However, teaching sites at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Kiryandongo and Fort Portal hospitals were not approved by NCHE.
The NCHE also noted that the university had a good staff development policy, scholarships which cover tuition and there was evidence of ongoing research and publication.
The Council advised that they should submit the programmes for accreditation, arrange for inspection of teaching sites by NCHE and a comprehensive audit be conducted on the university as a whole.

Mbarara University of Science and Technology
According to findings, the institution was found running PhD programmes which were not accredited.
The NCHE further noted the university was also engaged in a number of affiliations all not approved by the regulatory body as required by law, and the new science new block at the Kihumuro campus had not been occupied and seemed to lack maintenance.
The council, however, observed that governance structures at the university were in place, they had science programmes which are relevant to societal needs and there was evidence of an on-going research project won and publications.
The NCHE advised the university to submit all its PhD programmes for accreditation, suspend admissions until the accreditation process is complete, declare and regularise all affiliations.

Gulu University
The council findings established that the university had unpaid salary arrears for staff of up to Shs700 million, staff were promoted to senior lecturers and associated professors without PhD qualification and other requirements.
Makerere University
The council noted that the staffing level for the Dental School have improved, four units have been created for effective management of the school. The council cited a few deficiencies and asked the university to address them.

Kyambogo University
The council cited infrastructural development in place, but the university was lacking enough office space which requires building new structures. It also cited understaffing leading to over-dependence on part time lecturers, many affiliations and lack of adequate funding.

Ankole Western University
It has arrears on statutory remissions, the quality of infrastructure were still lacking and the multipurpose building still incomplete, they had no quality assurance and also had a number of staff members indicated on the staff list which does not appear on the staff payroll.
The council noted that the land title of the university has not been transferred into the university name, non-submission of annual reports to NCHE and had inadequate financial resources evidenced by outstanding obligations.
The council, however, noted good governance structure in place, recruitment of a new vice chancellor, good student enrolment and multipurpose building which was underway.

Valley University of Science and Technology
It has low student enrolment, poor quality furniture in some lecture rooms, no separation of powers between the owners and the management and the university management not fully constituted.
Council also established that office of the Vice Chancellor was not befitting and the university administrative offices were not properly demarcated. However, the university had a good quality spacious infrastructure and also engaged in some projects to promote community developments, among others.

University of St Joseph
NCHE noted inadequate staff, especially higher qualifications since they did not have a single professor, lacks clear development policy, some staff indicated as full staff were indicated elsewhere in same category and the process of transferring the land from the Archdiocese of Mbarara into the university name was still lacking.
The council recommended that the university has to recruit academic staff with higher qualifications, expedite the process of transferring the land into university name.

Ibanda University
The quality of the infrastructure was lacking in terms of finishing and maintenance, the university had no internet, very low staff salaries, and inadequate academic staff for some programmes. The available resources were not commensurate with current student numbers.
NCHE, however, noted good governance structures at the university, high student enrolment which was a good indication of growth and new buildings. The university was advised to recruit more qualified staff for the different programmes, submit evidence of statutory remission to URA and also consider acquiring more land for future use.

Kayiwa International University.
NCHE established that the existing infrastructure are not in good state, many employees are in acting capacity, the university is still maintaining the gazetted address, record keeping was still wanting and lacked separation of roles. The university management was advised to prioritise infrastructure development and also recruit and retain some senior staff.

Avance International University
It has no noticeable good will from managers to adhere to set standards and less marketing of the university.

Uganda Baptist Seminary Jinja
NCHE established student enrolment as low as 200, accreditation of all the programmes mounted by institutions have expired and it is heavily dependent on donors and gifts.
The university was advised to stop all academic staff members teaching who do not meet NCHE standards, and also seek more guidance from the council on programmes review.

Livingstone International University
Is understaffed with only 37 members, has few senior staff with the NCHE advising the management to reduce on the number of part time staff, recruit more staff and strengthen the staff associations.

Kumi University
The institution has no human resources, has under-qualified academic staff, most programmes have expired and some have been submitted to NCHE for accreditation, but payments have not been made.
Mr Kigozi said most of the universities have expired licences and should first work on what the council has recommended before their licences are renewed.
He, however, said some universities like Kayiwa face closure if they do not work on the recommendations.
Mr Kigozi also said duplication of universities is rampant in the country asserting that one might find university branches in different districts yet there are other public universities offering the same course hence leading to competition for students and teachers.
He said Makerere has a branch in Gulu yet there is Gulu University.
“I think we should work upon ensuring that public universities do not set up branches in districts where there are other public universities. We need concentration if we are to achieve excellency,” Mr Kigozi said.

Govt reaction
The Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Education, Mr Alex Kakooza, said the Rwendeire report is yet to be turned into a white paper for further discussion in Parliament before becoming a policy which will see a number of issues that were raised solved.
He, however, asked NCHE to ensure what universities are teaching is relevant to the 21st Century needs.
The Vice Chancellor of Kampala International University, Dr Mouhammad Mpezamihingo, said there has been confusion between re-accreditation and accreditation.
He said all programmes are accredited after five years, asserting that their courses were accredited, but they expired so they are yet to review them before they are re-accredited.
“It is not true that our courses are not accredited. They were accredited by the NCHE but they expired after five years. We are still reviewing those programmes which process has delayed a bit since we are still tracing old students who did those very courses to establish whether they have got jobs, we review them before forwarding them to national council for re-accreditation,” Mr Mpezamihingo said in a telephone interview.

OTHER FINDINGS
Uganda Christian University Mbale campus: NCHE found that most of the departments operate with part time staff, lack sports facilities, Internet connectivity needs improvement and the university needs to recruit senior staff.
Islamic University in Uganda: The number of senior staff is low and the university has few retained staff.
Lira University: It has no anatomy laboratory, but has enrolment of 1,300 students and sufficient lecture rooms.
Kampala University: NCHE noted that the record system keeping was inadequate, lacks separation of roles for governance structures, but has tremendous growth in infrastructure at Mutundwe campus.
University of Sacred Heart Gulu: The council found out that they have only two bachelor’s degree programmes, has low enrolment of 50 students, has 51.2 acres of land and only five full-time staff and seven part time.
All Saints University Lango: It has only 11 full-time staff, is heavily indebted at Shs1.6 billion in NSSF contributions, salary arrears and PAYE and student enrolment declining, inadequate lecture rooms and library space and books.
Uganda Martyrs University-Ngetta campus: The university has 125 students, ICT facilities need improvement and has seven full-time staff, but they have enough space and infrastructure.
Bishop Stuart University: It has inadequate staff for PhD programmes, a number of staff indicated as full-time were also indicated as full time in other universities and has many academic programmes with no niche. But it has infrastructure development and a staff development policy.