By Michael Ainomugisha. (Photography by Andrew Bugembe)
The Uganda Christian University (UCU), ICT department known as University ICT Services (UIS) has held the Trinity semester Tech Week at the main campus. This semester’s Tech Week is guided by the theme “Campus of the Future: Digital Pathways to Progress.”
The week intends to address the technological challenges faced by the university community. This is one of the moves for the institution to transition into an e-campus. The event intends to provide extensive technical support, with departments such as UIS and e-learning working together to assist with Wi-Fi connectivity, enrollment, alpha data management, and other issues.
Richard Ssekitoleko, UCU’s eLearning technical specialist, underlined the importance of Tech Week in providing students with easier access to technical support.
He noted the event’s varied spectrum of offerings, which included a laptop clinic and academic artificial intelligence (AI) training sessions.
“We are giving people extra training, like AI, how to use AI and different kinds of AI. And specifically, these are academic AIs answering questions like , “How do I attempt my quiz? How do I utilise these AIs to do different academic things?” And we are teaching them how to professionally use them to their advantage—not to cheat, not to unethically use AI in academics.” he added.
Tech Week serves as an educational platform, introducing students to emerging technologies such as virtual reality and offering consulting services for tailored support. This comprehensive approach strives to provide students with the information and abilities required to effectively navigate the digital realm.
Ssekitoleko noted that the turnout for this year’s Tech Week has been encouraging, especially among first-year students and those unfamiliar with campus resources. He pointed out that a large number of guests sought assistance with a variety of technical challenges, highlighting the importance and significance of such initiatives.
Mugisha Joshua, a Bachelor of Nursing Science student was pleasantly surprised by the exhibition: “I was just passing by, and I just heard the music. And when I came close to see what was happening, I heard the announcements. And some of my friends were already here, so I was kind of intrigued. Now, my PC has been serviced,” he said.
As UCU works to become an e-campus, events like Tech Week serve an important role in encouraging technical literacy and ensuring a smooth transition for students by closing the gap between technology and university students.
