On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Mbarara University of Science and Technology held a Quality Assurance Committee Handover and Training Workshop. The event was held under the crucial theme: “Quality Assurance in the Era of Competence-Based Curriculum Reform.”
This gathering marked a key moment in the University’s commitment to adapting its education system to meet evolving national and global standards.
Official Opening and Vision for Competence-Based Education
The Academic Registrar, Dr. Martha Kyoshaba Twinamasiko, officially opened the workshop and immediately focused on the fundamental shift required by the new Competence-Based Education (CBE) approach. Dr. Martha stressed that CBE is primarily about the daily interactions with students, necessitating a “paradigm shift in how we examine” to focus on demonstrated ability over rote knowledge.
She emphasized the urgent need for students to be placed “out in the field” to gain real-world competence. This focus on practical application translates directly into a major curriculum change at MUST, which will feature a restructuring to include more practical hours than theory hours.
Dr. Martha Kyoshaba underscored the vital importance of the QA officers’ role in ensuring this successful transition, calling their work key to “turning the education system in our country” around by shaping what graduates can truly do.
QA Officer’s Overview and Handover
The workshop commenced with welcome remarks and an institutional overview of quality assurance delivered by the Chief QA Officer, Dr. Fred Kaggwa. His comprehensive presentation covered several foundational elements necessary for successful quality assurance in the new era.
Dr. Kaggwa clarified who is responsible for QA across the institution, discussed the structure and drivers of internal QA, and highlighted the basic conditions that must be taken into account to ensure consistent quality. He concluded his remarks by providing an update on the current status of QA at Mbarara University, setting a clear baseline for the incoming committee.
Providing practical insight into curriculum execution was Mr. Benard Janja, Curriculum Specialist from the TVET-NCDC, who served as the training facilitator. Mr. Janja’s session focused on the critical necessity for universities to actively establish and utilize specialized platforms that educate based on competence.
His discussion centered on how QA officers can ensure that the systems and environments,both physical and pedagogical,are specifically designed to support the operationalization of the competence-based curriculum reform.
The event concluded with a formal gesture of appreciation, as the outgoing committee members were awarded certificates of appreciation for their dedicated service.
This workshop marked the successful handover to the new committee, which is now tasked with overseeing QA during this period of significant curriculum reform.
