Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) has announced new plans to expand collaboration with the University of the West of England (UWE) in areas of teaching, research, and student exchange.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from UWE, the Principal of CHUSS Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala said the college is ready to begin joint programmes and short courses immediately. “The MoU is signed, we are ready to start today,” she said, emphasizing the college’s commitment to strengthen international partnerships.
She explained that the collaboration will focus on practical learning, staff and student exchange, and joint research projects. “We have already started the conversation,” she added. “We want to learn from your experiential learning approach and simulation facilities so that we can prepare our classes better.” Prof. Nkabala stressed
The college also outlined its current partnerships with other institutions in Uganda and beyond. These include the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda Prisons Service, and various local governments. “We place our students in local communities to identify needs and work with people to solve real issues,” one of the presenters explained.
CHUSS currently has over 3,800 students and four main schools — Languages, Literature and Communication; Liberal and Performing Arts; Psychology; and Social Sciences. The Principal noted that female students now make up about 58.5 percent of the enrollment, showing the college’s contribution to women’s education and empowerment.
“We want to demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning,” he said. “That’s why we keep seeking new partners and innovative ways of delivering knowledge.”
Representatives from the University of the West of England welcomed the partnership, praising Makerere University’s achievements. “It’s a really impressive list of accomplishments,” said Professor Jo Midgley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, from UWE. “Your focus on experiential learning fits well with our practice-led approach. We also emphasize developing the skills and competencies that students need to make an impact in the workplace.”
Another UWE official, Emmanuel, added that their university is both “practice-led and research-intensive,” and that they are eager to collaborate in research and student exchanges. “We are looking forward to working very closely with you as we move into the future,” he said.
Colleen, a UWE staff member in charge of student experience, also shared examples of successful student projects in Africa. “In Ethiopia, our students worked with Addis Ababa University to build a bamboo pavilion using local materials,” she said. “The Prime Minister was so impressed that he asked for it to be moved to a national park.”
She added that UWE students are already working with schools and creative groups in Mbale, Uganda. “We bring our students to learn, share skills, and build solutions together with local communities,” she said.
The meeting ended with optimism from both sides. The Makerere University team expressed readiness to begin joint short courses and research projects right away. “We are excited and we are on board,” said the Principal. “We believe this partnership will go beyond us who are here today and open a new chapter of collaboration between our institutions.”
By Fred Kanwagi
Journalism and Communication Year 3 student
