By Asenath Were
Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) engineering students are set to benefit immensely from the exchange program between UCU’s Department of Engineering and Environment and the Department of Electrical Engineering at Aksaray University in Turkey.
The group of three, which set off on Monday for Turkey, will be spending two and a half months away from home training and interning at Aksaray University in Turkey. The collaboration began in 2021; however, UCU began sending students for the exchange program in 2022, making this the third cohort to go for the program.
Miria Agunyo, the dean of the faculty of Engineering, Design, and Technology, pointed out that UCU has collaborated with Aksaray University for the past three years, and it is through this that students who have done an engineering course or an elective in renewable energy, sanitation engineering, or construction works stand a chance to be selected as a UCU cohort to be sent to Aksaray University.
“The students get to do a traineeship, which allows them to practice with other students and other researchers at Aksaray University in the different thematic areas. They get to learn the practical experience and the multi-cultural aspect of getting to work with another university in another country.” Agunyu highlighted this.
She said that on their return, the students are expected to be able to give back to the university by supporting their fellow students in research and also to be able to support the department with other activities in terms of innovation and research.
Rodney Hannington Ssebuliba, a civil and environmental engineering student in his fourth year and one of the three students going to Aksaray University, said he is looking forward to exploring the country, looking into their culture, and getting to tour around the nation, as well as getting to make friends. “I look forward to venturing into the water and concrete sites and getting exposure as much as possible,” he emphasized.
Sandra Ssebagala, a civil engineering student in her third year, pointed out that there is a lot that is different in a new country and is therefore excited about this journey because, according to her, she is going to learn a lot.
“I have heard a lot about the program from the students who have been there already; it exposes young African students to what life is like outside but also manages to get skills that they might not have gotten here because of their technology, and besides, their ways of teaching are different.” She said
To Faith Linda Klanadi Angeango, who is looking forward to graduation in July and is one of the three going to Aksaray University for the exchange program, she is grateful to God for the opportunity and is looking forward to the skills she is going to learn. “I want to see how they think, how they do their things, and their way of life, so that I can broaden my perspective.” She pointed it out.
