By Irene Best Nyapendi
Uganda Christian University (UCU) has new innovative courses on its illustrious list of academic programs. The Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, recently declared the commencement of new programs that were accredited in August.
“We have good news to share,” Mushengyezi said. “We have received communication from the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) about the approval of our new and reviewed programs.”
NCHE, the body mandated to regulate and guide the establishment and management of Uganda’s higher education institutions, recently accredited a PhD in Journalism, Media, and Communication (JMC); a PhD in Development Studies; a PhD in Business Administration; a Master of Arts in African Studies; and a Master of Literature.
Others re-accredited are: PhD in Literature, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Philosophy degree in Theology, Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics, Master of Social Work, Master of Library and Information Science and Bachelor of Laws. This is according to a letter from the NCHE, dated September 6, 2023, addressed to the UCU Vice Chancellor.
UCU was also authorized to start a two-semester program, the Higher Education Certificate, which provides learners with the basic introductory knowledge, cognitive and conceptual tools, and practical techniques for further higher education studies. NCHE also reviewed other universities’ programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics, the Master of Social Work, the Master of Library and Information Science, and the Bachelor of Laws.
Mushengyezi said the university is set to admit students in all the new programs. He encouraged students at UCU and beyond to consider applying for the programs.
“The interesting thing about our PhD and Master’s degrees is that you can complete your degree online in the comfort of your office or home,” the Vice Chancellor said. “We promise you will get quality education at the Centre of Excellence in the Heart of Africa.”
Vincent Kisenyi, the Ag. Director of Academic Affairs and previously Dean of the School of Business, expressed enthusiasm about the renewed PhD program in Business Administration scheduled to start in January.
“The School of Business is very delighted to have the PhD in Business accredited,” Kisenyi said. “This is in line with the strategic direction that the university is taking to provide quality education to the highest level.”
Dr. Mary Kagoire, the Dean of the School of Education, is thrilled about the reaccredited PhD in Literature. She said the program targets change agents, researchers, and lecturers at higher institutions.
“Through our online studies, we can easily tap the rich collaboration of other professors,” she said. “They don’t have to be within UCU. They can teach from wherever they are, and the students too can study from anywhere.”
Kagoire said the PhD in literature will tap into the global space with possibilities of interconnection and collaboration in research in literary and cultural studies. UCU aims at promoting rigorous, focused research that leads to improved understanding and innovations to solve specific challenges in Uganda and abroad.
The JMC PhD, slated to commence by December, will start off with 10 candidates and cover four broad areas — media democracy and development in Africa; media, gender, identity and participation; media and crisis; and health and science communication.
“This is the first PhD with coursework in Uganda, and this is important because we conducted a needs assessment and found out that there’s a big gap in terms of capacity for research as well as strong teaching skills at the university level,” Prof. Monica Chibita, the Dean of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication, said.
The program will start off with an 11-strong faculty, comprising four professors, two associate professors, and five lecturers drawn from UCU, the University of KwaZulu Natal, the University of Rwanda, and NLA University College, Norway. The faculty composition reflects strong collaboration between the partner universities and continued support for capacity development in higher education and research for development from the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED).
