Victoria University, the newly chartered private university on Saturday evening held its sixth graduation.
The ceremony is the first one of its kind after attaining Charter status and on a new road of redefining higher education teaching and assessment in the country and the entire East African region.
Held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, in Kampala, the event was graced by Education and Sports Minister, Janet Museveni represented by the Minister of State for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo who applauded the remarkable transformations at the University.
“Victoria University has changed the education tide with its Authentic Learning and work -Integrated learning,” he said, adding: “Victoria University students are a safe pair of hands; one of a kind not synonymous with strikes.”
The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Muganga noted that a total of 289 students graduated.
“Of these 171 have completed their Higher Education Certificates (A new course, prepared for all students who missed the two Principal Passes at Advanced Level), 18 have attained Diplomas, 94 Bachelor’s Degrees, three (3) Post-Graduate Degrees and other three (3) Masters Degrees.”
“We have also ditched the old, sleepy, boring graduations as you know them; and have introduced an experience where all East Africa’s top entertainers and musicians get to take part in marking a new step for our students to join the world of work,” he revealed.
Prof. Muganga says 12% of the graduates are the first in their family to earn a university degree and 60% of the graduates are female.
He revealed that they decided to adjust to the growing technology trends which are already paying dividends.
“Our learning platform is not just the best orderly experience; it has now become the benchmark for other universities to model their learning platforms. In that regard, our students are already miles ahead.”
According to him, their acquisition of a Charter, granted by President Yoweri Museveni last month, after the approval of the National Council for Higher Education and the ministry of education and sports, was a confirmation of the new path they have created in the country’s higher education.
“When we decided to transform your learning environment, we looked beyond the smartboard we have availed you. It wasn’t about the online teaching platforms that are convenient and allow you to enjoy education from wherever you are! Or the practical learning we continue to roll-out,” he said, adding: “Our AMBITION was and still is to share the real world with you; the world where you are the drivers and not the passengers. The World where you are not the led, but rather leaders in every right! The kind where you are the torch bearers!”
Chancellor Prof. John Opuda-Asibo hailed the approach of teaching at one of Uganda’s premier institutions of Higher learning.
“With a conducive working and study environment enjoyed at Victoria University, a platform to succeed is inevitable,” Prof. Opuda-Asibo said.
New University Programmes introduced
Prof. Muganga said that the University had introduced nine new programmes, namely:
- Bachelor Science in International Oil and Gas Management
- Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Master of Science in Cyber Security
- Master of Science in Blockchain and Financial Technologies
- Master of Science in Health Informatics
- Master of Science in Computer Science
- Master of Science in Health Safety and Environment Management
- Master of Laws with Six Specializations, namely: Natural Resources Law, Construction and Engineering Law, Criminology, Penology and Criminal Justice, Media, Mass Communication and Journalism, Sports and Entertainment Law & LLM General.
Victoria University is one of the educational institutions under the Ruparelia Group of Companies, owned by city tycoon Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia. Others are Delhi Public School, Kampala International School (KISU) and Kampala Parents School.