Mbarara University of Science and Technology received 10 laptops from Cyberschool Technology Solutions for support towards digital content creation for eLearning at the institution. The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday, 6th February 2024 during an engagement between the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs -Prof. Nixon Kamukama and selected lecturers, from different Faculties, meant to spearhead the further implementation of eLearning and Distance Education at MUST.
This, under the ongoing Cyberschool Technologies- Mastercard Foundation eLearning initiative, aimed at improving the university’s ability to enhance quality online education while increasing access to market –responsive education and training. The initiative is being implemented under the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor- Academic Affairs.
An Opportunity to address Teaching Challenges
During the engagement, Prof. Nixon Kamukama, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics Affairs challenged the academic staff to take advantage of online pedagogy and blended learning as a solution to the challenges of inadequate/congested physical lecture space at university.
Prof. Kamukama also expressed gratitude to CyberSchool Technologies and Mastercard foundation for the support which shall also see MUST become a regional centre of excellence in eLearning and digital pedagogy through the establishment of a Digital Content Support Hub/Studio at its Kihumuro Campus, enhancement of network connectivity and access, provision of affordable computing devices to staff and students, enhancement of the university’s Learning Management System and improving academic staff’s technical ability in delivering online education.
The Head ICT Services at MUST, Mr. Amos Baryashaba provided the meeting with a background of the university’s journey and challenges of eLearning and expressed confidence that the initiative would go a long way in addressing the existing bottlenecks.
He also informed the meeting that the University was using the initiative to particularly target university courses with the largest student enrollments to be used as pilots.
Lecturer feedback and Plans for the Future
The meeting also reviewed experience of progress made in the just ended 1st Semester of the 2023/2024 Academic Year and agreed on a number of aspects meant to improve the roll-out of elearning at MUST.
The engagement concluded with the handover of 10 laptops meant to be used in content development of the pilot courses to undertake blended learning. The cross cutting courses, with an expected big enrollment of students include;
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Business Ethics
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Business Statistics
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Therapeutics & Toxicology
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Systemic Pharmacology
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Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Environmental Sanitation