Kampala, Uganda – May 31, 2023: Makerere University convened Uganda’s Vice-Chancellors Forum on Monday in response to public outcry regarding reports of expired courses being offered by institutions in Uganda.
On May 22, Daily Monitor reported that a university in the United Kingdom rejected an applicant from Makerere University because her course was listed as ‘expired’ on the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) website. This sparked a crisis that led to Uganda’s Vice-Chancellors Forum where vice chancellors from various universities came together to address the issue. Further investigation revealed that the NCHE website had labeled at least 2,260 programs as expired, leaving current and former university students uncertain about the fate of their education.
Hosted by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, the Vice Chancellors Forum met at Makerere University in Kampala to discuss a way forward for the affected universities. The primary objective was to strengthen internal systems and address the issue of expired academic programs.
During the meeting, Prof. Nawangwe presented a position paper on accreditation of universities and tertiary institutions, focusing on the implications of expired programs, the legal and regulatory framework, strengthening internal review processes, the role of the NCHE, streamlining accreditation procedures, annual reviews and updates, quality assurance structures, and collaboration and compliance.
Makerere leads the way:
During the meeting, Makerere University took a proactive stance to address the distressing issue of ‘expired’ academic programmes in Ugandan universities.
The sources add that during the meeting, the university presented a comprehensive position paper to the Uganda Vice Chancellors Forum, highlighting the urgency of strengthening internal systems for reviewing and validating academic programmes.
The labeling of programmes as expired has caused significant concern among students, parents, stakeholders, and the general public.
The impact of this situation is immeasurable, affecting the reputation of Ugandan universities, job prospects, career development, and ultimately, the nation’s economy. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Makerere University stresses the need for immediate action.
According to sources, universities can eliminate the need for re-accreditation by developing efficient and effective systems for reviewing and validating their programs. “The role of the NCHE would then shift towards monitoring and inspecting the institutions’ systems to ensure compliance and quality,” the paper states in part.
Makerere University’s position paper presents a comprehensive and practical approach to address the issue of expired programmes in Ugandan universities.
It is now up to the stakeholders and decision-makers to consider these recommendations and take action to strengthen the higher education sector, ensuring the delivery of quality programmes and fostering a conducive learning environment for students across the country.
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