By Olivia Kamusiime and Lule Eriah.
The Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, last month paid a courtesy visit to Hanze University in the Netherlands. He discovered that Hanze University adopted student-centered learning as their teaching approach. This didn’t only impress him but further encouraged the university to come and work with UCU.
The two-man team led by Johan Henjik and Jaap Mannes, the Director of Internationalization Committee at the School of Business Marketing and Finance at Hanze University, have held workshops with the student fraternity and later staff members from the School of Business.
The visiting team of Hanze oriented students in the computer lab on the Peggy Noll block, where students were oriented and taught the best way to apply their classroom acquired knowledge and create projects for themselves.
According to Jaap, the approach helps students link directly to the industry immediately after university since it’s about learning and doing. “This approach is more feasible and strategic in the fight against unemployment among university graduates. It’s a more hands-on approach, where students are engaged in different projects and activities that can even later have positive results for their future,” said Jaap.
The staff workshop was held in e-learning. Lecturers were tasked with making a variety of tactical and operational decisions in light of increased student participation and interaction with their various projects, while also considering strategy, changing circumstances, and the sustainability of social business trends.
He further noted that students from both universities will work on different projects that will be executed at the end of their courses, which means knowledge will be conducted online.
The Dean of the School of Business, Vincent Kisenyi, applauded Hanze University for the marvelous work they did. He explained that now the university will be able to produce a fully equipped graduate who won’t be a job seeker but a job creator.
“I am very impressed by this approach, and I can’t wait for us as an institution to implement it and test its efficacy. I am very confident that we will yield positive results from this approach,” added Kisenyi.
Kivuna Jonathan, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s of Business Administration and the Guild Vice president, says that with this kind of learning, many students are going to benefit since it’s a hands-on approach. “There is much practical even in class while studying. I think it’s going to benefit very many students’ business and project ideas that would in turn become future businesses,” he said.
Elsie Nsiyona, the Associate Dean of the School of Business, commended the approach for its already showing effectiveness and efficiency even before its endorsement.
“I am gratified by the way this approach is used and am just anxious to see some of the results. My fellow staff, let’s get used to this style and provide better learning for our students,” Nsiyona said.
Many more results are expected from the partnership between the Hanze University and UCU though all are still in pipeline at the round table discussion
