{"id":6703,"date":"2025-06-24T15:47:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=6703"},"modified":"2025-07-24T15:50:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T12:50:11","slug":"chuss-2025-graduate-symposium-closes-with-a-call-for-stronger-research-networks-and-student-metal-health-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/chuss-2025-graduate-symposium-closes-with-a-call-for-stronger-research-networks-and-student-metal-health-support\/","title":{"rendered":"CHUSS 2025 Graduate Symposium Closes with a Call for \u00a0Stronger Research Networks and Student Metal Health Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Jane Anyango<\/strong>
Makerere University, Kampala \u2013 Saturday June 21, 2025<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Professor Ireeta Tumps the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Makerere University, officially closed the 2025 CHUSS Graduate Symposium on Friday, urging continued investment in graduate research, mental health support for students, and stronger academic networks across disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering the closing remarks at the conclusion of the three-day event organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Ireeta expressed appreciation to the college leadership, faculty, students, and invited guests for organizing what he described as an inspiring academic gathering. He noted that such symposiums are crucial platforms in the university environment, offering opportunities for research discussions and meaningful academic networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSymposiums are great spaces in the academy for two reasons: networks are built, and conversations around our research practices are held,\u201d Prof. Ireeta stated. \u201cSeeing that this is a gathering of not just faculty, but also graduate students, gives me great satisfaction. I am convinced from what I\u2019ve witnessed here that we can expect better graduate completion rates and a stronger pipeline for future academic staff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He praised the College of Humanities and Social Sciences for adopting a student-centered model of research and dissemination, commending faculty members for their commitment to supporting student success through supervision and structured academic guidance. According to Prof. Ireeta, the nature and depth of discussions during the symposium demonstrated the college’s dedication to Makerere University\u2019s mission of becoming a research-intensive institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Ireeta also recognized the leadership of the Principal of CHUSS, Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, and her deputy, Professor Eric Awich Ochen, for creating an enabling environment for both academic and professional growth. He applauded them for providing space for their teams to \u201cthrive and reach for heights they thought they could not reach,\u201d adding that the college was a \u201crich mine of talent\u201d contributing to the development of high-quality graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Ireeta Tumps delivering the closing remarks<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the financial and institutional support that sustains postgraduate research, Prof. Ireeta acknowledged several partners and funding bodies. She thanked the Gerda Henkel Foundation for supporting at least ten PhD students annually and for sponsoring this year\u2019s symposium. He further noted the valuable contributions from the governments of Norway, Sweden, and Italy, who have supported various research and graduate teaching initiatives within the college. Rotary International and the Mastercard Foundation were also mentioned for their growing support in graduate training. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the Government of Uganda through the Research and Innovations Fund (RIF), managed under the Office of the DVC Finance and Administration, for funding select PhD projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese collaborations represent the beginning of a great future for our graduate students,\u201d he said, emphasizing the collective responsibility to nurture and sustain such academic partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a more personal and candid appeal, Prof. Ireeta addressed the mental health challenges faced by graduate students. \u201cI have heard that since your supervisors did not die, you will not die,\u201d he said jokingly, drawing laughter from the audience. \u201cBut take that advice seriously\u2014especially regarding mental health. It is important to be alive at the end of your graduate studies journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged students to remember the lessons from their academic journey and to aspire to become impactful mentors and supervisors themselves in the future. In his concluding remarks, Prof. Ireeta reaffirmed his \u00a0belief in the potential of the college, stating that \u201cthe sky is the limit\u201d for CHUSS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Awich Calls for \u00a0Greater attention to Mental Health \u00a0in Graduate Training<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Deputy Principal of CHUSS \u00a0Assoc. Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, called for deeper regional collaboration in graduate education and greater attention to student mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Awich praised the symposium as a milestone in strengthening research culture and postgraduate training within Uganda and across the region. He noted that the symposium had drawn participants not only from Uganda, but also from Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis has been an exhilarating three-day journey for our graduate students,\u201d Prof. Awich said. \u201cI have been told that this symposium has involved both master’s and PhD students, and the academic \u2018menu\u2019 served has been very rich.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Associate Prof. Eric Awich Ochen speaking during the closing ceremony<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Awich underscored the importance of mental health in academic life, highlighting it as a key theme that emerged during the sessions. He noted that well-being is fundamental to academic success and personal fulfillment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the most important lessons from this symposium has been about mental health,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything we do should be grounded in ensuring we live better \u2014 not just individually, but also in harmony with our families, our workmates, and our communities. Happiness, not accumulation, is the real achievement, and mental health is central to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He expressed gratitude to senior professors and facilitators, including keynote speaker Prof. Grace Musila, for their dedication and continued support toward nurturing the next generation of African scholars. He also commended the leadership of CHUSS for consistently investing in quality research mentorship and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur responsibility as a college goes beyond Uganda,\u201d Prof. Awich emphasized. \u201cAs CHUSS, our interest is to support graduate training across Africa. If Africa is to move closer to the rest of the world \u2014 to Asia, to Europe \u2014 then we need to train not just 10,000 but 100,000 PhDs in the next decade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited Makerere University\u2019s strategic role as a leading institution in Africa\u2019s higher education landscape and reaffirmed the college\u2019s commitment to contributing to continental academic advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur contribution may seem small, but each step we take in this direction is significant,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Tibasiima Celebrates Mentorship and Humanity in Graduate Education<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Isaac Tibasiima, convener of the CHUSS 2025 Graduate Symposium,\u00a0 emphasized the importance of mentorship, humanity, and collective responsibility in graduate education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Tibasiima acknowledged the efforts behind organizing the event and paid special tribute to the team that made it possible. He credited key figures such as Dr. Edgar Nabutanyi, Levis Mugumya, and several members of the graduate studies coordination team for their commitment to making the symposium a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we started this preparation, Edgar called me to his office and said, \u2018Isaac, I want you to do this and this,\u2019\u201d he recounted. \u201cWhat I love about Edgar is that he reminds us constantly \u2014 we are the next people staying here. If we are not mentored into what is required, then we\u2019re headed for a crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Ireeta Tumps (2nd) in a group photo with the organising committee<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a lighthearted but deeply sincere tone, Dr. Tibasiima acknowledged the challenges and rewards of coordinating the symposium, which featured both master’s and PhD students from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and other countries. He thanked fellow coordinators including for their teamwork and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe sometimes joke about the stress of doctoral committees and seminar series,\u201d he said, \u201cbut the effort is never in vain. We do it because we care about graduate education and we believe in the future it can build.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on the journey of graduate students, Dr. Tibasiima offered words of comfort and strength. \u201cWe often imagine that graduate school will be a beautiful, smooth journey \u2014 but it isn\u2019t,\u201d he said. \u201cStill, we learn through the process. And the most important lesson is that we remain human through it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged students to embrace imperfection and see learning as a shared experience between students and supervisors. \u201cWe as students are not machines, and our supervisors have taught us to be human, too. That is the essence of education \u2014 it is not just academic; it is relational.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Tibasiima also addressed broader issues facing the humanities, delivering a passionate defense of the discipline. \u201cWorld over, the humanities are struggling, but they are still alive. We must remind the world that we are not machines. We are human beings \u2014 who talk, who feel, who laugh, who cry. That is what the humanities represent, and that is why we are here to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Ireeta hands over a package of gifts to Dr. Allen Asimmwe a panelist of the morning session<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He acknowledged the support of CHUSS leadership, including the Principal, Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, and Deputy Principal, Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, for their guidance throughout the planning process. He also extended thanks to the Gerda Henkel Stiftung Foundation for its ongoing sponsorship of graduate education at Makerere University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a pointed reminder to students, Dr. Tibasiima urged those aiming to graduate in January to submit their work by the official deadline of July 31, encouraging all to stay focused and finish strong. \u201cIf you’re at the tail end, get to the end. If you’re just starting, we wish you strength and courage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He concluded by recognizing participants from across the region and expressing hope for continued academic collaboration. \u201cTo our colleagues from Kenya, Rwanda, and beyond \u2014 thank you for being here. And for those of us staying at Makerere, may we continue building for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Students Hail CHUSS Symposium as Transformative<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Graduate student representatives\u00a0 described the three-day event as transformative, affirming its role in equipping young scholars with the tools, confidence, and support needed to thrive in academia and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on behalf of graduate students from Makerere University and visiting institutions across Africa, Rugyendo Arinaitwe<\/strong>, a doctoral candidate\u00a0 expressed heartfelt appreciation for the symposium\u2019s impact on their academic journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ugandan Student representative Arinaitwe Rugyendo speaking<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese past three days have been nothing short of transformative,\u201d Arinaitwe said. \u201cWe have not only shared our research but immersed ourselves in a journey of holistic growth. We now understand what rigor, structure, originality, and purpose mean to our supervisors and examiners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arinaitwe emphasized the importance of sessions on academic writing<\/strong>, publishing<\/strong>, and, notably, mental health<\/strong>, which resonated strongly with students navigating the pressures of graduate study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a time when academic expectations are high, the conversation on mental health reminded us that this journey is not a do-or-die endeavor. It’s a slow bloom \u2014 and we are growing in our own seasons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also highlighted the feedback from lecturers and facilitators as “a gift \u2014 frank, encouraging, and purpose-driven,” adding that the symposium not only sharpened students’ research but also “renewed their confidence.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a nod to the increasingly global nature of postgraduate scholarship, Arinaitwe acknowledged the contributions of fellow students from countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria<\/strong>, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScholarship thrives in collaboration, not isolation. Borders are mere lines, but ideas have no boundaries,\u201d he said. \u201cUganda is not just a destination \u2014 it\u2019s an embrace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A section of participants attending the closing ceremony<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a final note, Arinaitwe also shared an initiative he is working on \u2014 ResearchFindersNews.com<\/strong>, a platform designed to make academic research more accessible to the public. He explained its mission is to translate complex academic work into readable stories using what he called a “musification model” that bridges researchers with policymakers, media, and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResearch should not be trapped in journals, appreciated only by a few. It must circulate, resonate, and serve the public,\u201d he stated<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symposium, which attracted a diverse cohort from across the continent, was also praised by Cynthia Lemanyang<\/strong>, a student from the University of Nairobi<\/strong>. Representing international participants, she applauded CHUSS for its coordinated, interdisciplinary approach to graduate mentorship and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is something truly commendable about how an entire faculty came together to create space for us to share, learn, and grow,\u201d Lemanyang said. \u201cThis level of collegiality and intentionality is something we rarely see back home, and I believe it\u2019s something to be benchmarked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasized the importance of institutional support in making such programs possible, expressing gratitude to both the CHUSS leadership and the broader Makerere University administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithout the support of systems and structures, such as we\u2019ve seen here, even the best ideas would remain unrealized,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both student speakers echoed a message of perseverance and unity, reminding fellow scholars that while the PhD journey is tough, it is survivable \u2014 and deeply worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou will not die,\u201d Lemanyang echoed with a smile, reaffirming the popular symposium mantra. \u201cYou will live. And more importantly \u2014 you will thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CHUSS Graduate Symposium 2025 brought together graduate students, faculty, and international partners in a forum designed to showcase postgraduate research, enhance mentorship, and strengthen academic collaboration across borders. The event marked a critical step in advancing Makerere University’s vision of becoming a research-intensive, globally competitive institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n