A team from Bugisu region constituted to steer the establishment of a public government university has visited Soroti university on a benchmarking tour aimed at gaining experiences and best practices from Soroti University to understand what it takes to establish a Public University.
In his welcome remarks, the Vice chancellor informed his guests of the need for wide consultations and extensive needs assessment with various stakeholders to form a basis for designing the type of courses the university will offer. The courses must respond to the human resource gaps and needs of the country.
Developing clear vision and mission statements is critical in setting the Niche. He informed his visitors that land is very critical and should be free from all encumbrances. Teamwork is very critical, keep clear records and minutes of all your meetings, produce realistic budget the VC counselled.
The chairperson of the taskforce referred to as the coalition of the willing and the head of the delegation Mr. Gimuguni John in his remarks hailed the Vice chancellor for steering the establishment of Soroti University. He said the president had earlier in one of the meetings with the leaders of Bugisu region pledged to establish a public university in the region. He added that it’s on this basis that the steering committee was constituted to champion, spearhead and follow up on the president’s pledge to establish the university.
“Mbale Public university is the proposed name of the university but shall have to be adopted or changed as the consultations are still ongoing”. Mr Gimuguni said
The steering committee was constituted before covid but got interrupted during the covid outbreak but has now resumed work to push the agenda of establishing a government university in the Bugisu region.
They were taken through different presentations, highlighting stages to be taken to realise the dream.
The Academic Registrar Soroti University, James Gregory Okello (standing)who was a member of the Taskforce which established Soroti University giving a presentation to the steering committee of proposed Mbale Public University.
Other members of the establishment committee included Dr. Stephen Wekoye, the executive secretary of the steering committee, Ass. prof. Nabalegwa Muhamud Wabende, Janet wambedde, Mutanje Abdu, David Jonathan Warendeya, Eng.Wambedde Micheal, Dr. Kisaka Annet Magolo, Mr. Masai William, Topher Malaka, and Dr. Samuel Walulutu.
The e-learning is Centre key in supporting blended learning.
The visitors were taken on a guided tour of the university facilities to appraise themselves with infrastructure and create a sense of what it takes to establish a university.
The Vice Chancellor assured the team of his full support and called upon them to invite him and his team of technocrats to guide.
Soroti University has become a national centre for benchmarking as Mountains of the Moon University recently visited the university to benchmark.