Victoria University, a private chartered university in Uganda, has introduced nine new programmes – highly competitive on the world market place to enrich the education in the country.
The revelation was made by the University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Muganga at the university’s sixth graduation ceremony held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, in Kampala.
They include:
o Bachelor Science in International Oil and Gas Management
o Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
o Bachelor of Pharmacy
o Master of Science in Cyber Security – this speaks to your cyber safety today
o Master of Science in Blockchain and Financial Technologies – 1st in East Africa
o Master of Science in Health Informatics
o Master of Science in Computer Science
o Master of Science in Health Safety and Environment Management – 1st in Uganda
o Master of Laws (Six Specializations) – Natural Resources Law, Construction and Engineering Law, Criminology, Penology and Criminal Justice, Media, Mass Communication and Journalism, Sports and Entertainment Law & LLM General.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the university’s steady progress has not come on a silver plate, “we faced opposition, criticisms, at times even doubt but we believed in the change we took and it has yielded: There is evidence for it: I can comfortably stress we are already ahead of global targets.”
The World Bank 2021 feasibility study to connect all African higher education institutions to high-speed Internet has a target of at least 2 Gbps per 1000 students by 2025, and at least 20 Gbps per 1000 students by 2030.
Prof. Muganga says at Victoria University will instead move ahead of this projection.
“We will not wait for 2025, or 2030. My promise is we will be able to reach that mark earlier than any university in the land and across the region!”
He revealed that they are ahead of time in IT compliance and advancement, being part of the digital economy for Africa according to the World Bank.
He says that all their programmes taught in all faculties incorporate the digital economy to fine tune the students to forge out opportunities through internet.
“We are moving at a level that makes our students the yardstick for domestic and global standards,” he said.
“Such transformations have not been forced on us, it has come through careful study of the environment to understand the needs and our openness to domestic regulation,” added Mr. VC.
The university’s investments in ICT is in line with the ministry of education Digital Agenda Strategy 2021-2025 to integrate ICT into teaching, learning, assessment, sports and administration.
TRIBUTE | Miriam Ekirapa Musaali: A Testament of Faith, Courage, and Enduring Strength Against CancerProf. Muganga says their education embraces the five objective areas in that agenda: ICT coverage and connectivity, promote research and innovation, leveraging on emerging technologies.
Best known for hands on learning, and practical learning, it has redefined the course of education with experiential learning and work-integrated learning in the midst of learners, having a commanding position in society.
The VC says such adjustments have enabled them take class to the industry and the industry to classes.
In Science and IT, he says they have engineered innovations and advanced solutions whereas in business, they have answered the call to create wealth, opportunities and wellbeing.
“In Humanities and social sciences our programmes have enlarged the scope of human social development; In Health Science, we have evolved healthcare and awareness.”
Following the university’s steady growth, it has revamped into new infrastructure, extending at Market Plaza on Market Street.
Since last graduation, the VC says the classroom coverage has expanded close to 20 new ultra-modern physical learning areas. He noted they have diversified their library with another branch, and Computer labs built to immerse the metaverse. “Additionally, we have setup a state-of-the-art Moot Court that benchmarks international standards – all this is done to advantage our Law students.”
The university, being mindful of digital economy, and the 4th industrial revolution, all of which require tapping into existing technologies, has took the transformative decision to invest in the creation of several students learning centers including:
(1) The Career and Employability Center: To prepare students with skills and competencies relevant for the 21 century, especially soft skills.
(2) The Center for Innovation and Virtual Reality Learning – to prepare students for a technology-driven world dominated by digital literacies.
“In our midst, a functioning HUB and we call it the Centre for Innovation and Virtual Reality Learning where solutions for the world are incubated. In the HUB, student’s innovations are baked into opportunities for intellectual property. Many of our students are already entrepreneurs while others have clarity on their career direction in desired fields,” said Mr. VC.
Prof. Muganga is confident that their students are ready to create wealth and opportunities for Uganda and the world.
He says that to fully claim their international footing, they have to become a university driven by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), noting the following:
- Investment in high performance labs and ultra-modern facilities is inevitable if not urgent.
- Instituting high performance Mass Media Studios will light a digital revolution, enrich content creation for staff and provide our students with an opportunity to access training that mirrors the real world of media trends.
Regarding the mass national confidence in agro industry, Mr. VC says they envision establishing an agro institute of international repute to improve research based agriculture.
“Our vision on the hospitality industry is broad (to create a facility to host- Hotelier, tourism and recreation) with that, Victoria university will in turn stamp a mark as the centre of the working industry.”
“With our expanding possibilities we are left with no option but host those aspirations in a place we call home, and conducive to hold those aspirations,” he noted.
Capital cities are arguably the education pulse of nation states and transcend beyond borders to attain International standpoint.
Prof. noted that at Victoria University, they hold the baton as the country’s transformers and world’s player. “For us to be a legitimate International skipper, we view the institution in the heartland (The Capital of the country) where we shall call home.”
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.
