Makerere can be ranked the best in Africa and beyond
What you need to know:
Institutional role. For institutions to grow, whether public or private, there must be a clear distinction between the owners herein referred to as the promoters and the managers, each party playing its institutional role effectively, efficiently and appropriately at all times.
I feel extremely proud when I read through the Ugandan print media that Makerere University is ranked the 5th overall knowledge dispenser in Africa and the best in East Africa. Bravo Mak!
The media on September 9, was flooded with the good news of Makerere University’s teaching excellence among African universities filtered and accorded by the one and only UK’s The Times High Education.
The 2020 World University rankings by The Times High Education UK, parades other African best universities in ascending order as follows; University of Cape Town (South Africa), Stellenbosch University (South Africa), University of Kwazulu – Natal (South Africa) and Makerere University of Uganda, among others.
What an honour and privilege for South Africa to have the best universities on the continent and realistic growing economy in Africa.
How is it specially done in South Africa to garner all these socio-economic blessings that is so difficult in other African countries, including Uganda? Where is the missing link?
For any individual or organisation world over, to excel, there must be a trending dream, an idea or realistic plan. It becomes so difficult to transform substantially and sustainably in situations of lack of a clear vision, direction and strategy, whatever years you may have lived on planet earth.
For institutions to grow whether public or private, there must be a clear distinction between the owners, herein referred to as the promoters, and the managers, each party playing its institutional role effectively, efficiently and appropriately at all times.
This is what the Republic of South Africa is best positioned for to achieve exceptional excellence in nearly every public – private good it renders at all times.
Special thanks to Makerere University’s leadership for toiling harder ever to keep the university reasonably on top of the academic ladder and perpetually in the lime light.
We, the products of Makerere University, continue to appreciate your hard won endeavours and pray that like Oliver-Twist, “you give us more”.
To holistically transform Makerere University into a fully-fledged global centre of knowledge and excellence, the following issues need to be dispensed:
A stable and adequate university research fund should be established to promote perpetual knowledge production, distribution and execution at all times.
Action-based researches designed to yield solutions to contemporary community challenges should be given more priority to promote sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels.
Resource mobilisation should be heightened locally and globally, with the government of Uganda executing its full, appropriate and timely mandate in funding the university.
Innovations, creativity, business and investment should be given utmost priority to steer the university to another strategic level.
A course affordability model should be worked out to ensure good university education for all.
Quality assurance at all structural and systemic levels should be perpetually maintained.
Networking and collaboration with value adding institutions should be heightened at all levels to tap strategic resources for sustainable development.
Mr Mukedi is a development expert and a senior public management scientist
