VICTORIA UNIVERSITY: Uganda’s Higher Academic Game Changers Restoring Education Promise in the 21st Century; A Look at its Milestones and Visionary Leadership
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” said Malcolm X, an African-American human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement.
However, besides being the passport to the future, and for tomorrow belonging to those who prepare for it today, it matters more on how and who prepares your future.
Victoria University Uganda (VUU) is the leading East Africa’s private university offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses, a pioneering provider of experiential and authentic learning.
A member of the Ruparelia Group, VUU is the leading technologically-enabled university preparing the future of the many generations in the region.
The acquisition of a Charter, signed by President Yoweri Museveni recently , with the approval of the National Council for Higher Education and the ministry of education and sports, was a confirmation of a new path they have created in the country’s higher education.
‘’This path starts from the day you express interest in joining Victoria University, to the moment you graduate. We may have an education with experience’’, said an official from VU.
Established in 2011 and accredited by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education , VUU is owned by Sudhir Ruparelia, one of the wealthiest individual in Africa .
Headquartered at Victoria Towers Plot 1-13 Jinja Road in Kampala, VUU is now the regional academic center of excellence as students continue to come from the great lakes region to attain success from here.
During our investigation we established that in addition to Kenya, substantial numbers of students come from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
Recently while Speaking to our reporter ahead of the 6th Graduation Festival set to be held at Speke Hotel Speke Resort Munyonyo; on September 3rd, 2022; Dr Lawrence Muganga, the Vice-Chancellor Victoria University said they have managed to set up a very effective, interactive, and seamless Learning Management System which is not found in any university or academic institution on the African continent called VClass.
‘’The NCHE team of inspectors (NCHE) has on several occasions scrutinized it and the latest report scored it at 81.9% for its effectiveness in being used in teaching and assessment of students and other related functions it holds’’, Muganga said.
Muganga said as part of their plans to acquire the charter , they had already revolutionized the assessment (examination process) to ensure that all examination papers are done online, and students are tasked with applying knowledge of real-world experiences in their answers to the examinations.
‘’We have abandoned the old system of examining students, based on recalling the memorized notes from lecturers and books. Real life require students to apply knowledge and not regurgitate crammed theories. It is for the same reason that in Victoria, class work and practical learning account for a higher percentage of the assessment, say 70% (or slightly less), and examinations account for 30% (or slightly more)’’,he added.
Muganga highlighted that it’s the reason they are securing laptops following the MoU with Stanbic Bank to help their students effectively access their Learning Management system, which handles the teaching and examining of students.
‘’Authentic examinations or assessments involve real-world problem solving that allows learners to demonstrate their skills, by applying them to the task. Authentic assessment occurs in the learning environment, but the best way to visualize the concept is to compare it with a simple real-life application’’, he told our reporter.
Muganga says authentic examinations should require some sort of action. The action could be a presentation, research, experiment, or collaboration. An example would be a foreign language assessment where the learner has to interview a person in the language they are learning.
‘’You cannot keep such a student in a single room. It requires the freedom to go out and research’’, he said.
When it comes to retaking exams where students did not perform well the first time, they give them a second chance with the view that they can use different ways of answering the examinations, which traditional exams do not provide.
If a learner gets to retake a traditional assessment for instance , they have to tackle the same questions in the same way. Their examination system allows students who do not demonstrate enough in the initial assessment to try it again and use a different approach. A student might be able to solve the problem differently, or they might be able to present the results again if the presentation was the point of the problem.
The university held its first graduation ceremony at Kabira Country Club, during the summer of 2014. Twenty-two graduates were awarded degrees and diplomas.
Victoria University is changing tradition by ditching the old, sleepy, boring graduations; and introducing an experience where all East Africa’s top entertainers and musicians get to take part in marking a new step for their students to join the world of work.
The University’s 6th Graduation Festival will see Uganda’s renowned artists like Spice Diana, King Saha, Ykee Benda, Lamu, Levixone, The Baninas and Aganaga; on the same stage , the same evening flanked by comedians including Salvador, Madrat & Chiko, and Viana Indi among others.
‘’We have always told you, we’re the University of you, and this is it. We have listened to you all our dear students when you asked that we should change the culture of graduations; from a boring lot to something enjoyable. We are delivering an experience you want to remember and live with, for life’’, reads a university statement about the forthcoming Graduation ceremony.
The University’s latest design of gowns also exhibits the creativity at the institution.
VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AT VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Dr Lawrence Muganga is the Vice-Chancellor Victoria University Kampala Uganda, an Education Thought-Leader, Professor of Education, award-winning best-selling author, international curriculum speaker, and passionate about changing the education factory called the school in Uganda and has wholeheartedly support his entire team at the u university
Dr Muganga has researched extensively and written about a cutting-edge educational paradigm titled Authentic Learning, this literary means an education that prepares learners for the real world by equipping them with real-life skills to handle life today and tomorrow.
He’s the author of “You can’t Make Fish Climb Trees: Overcoming Educational Malpractice through Authentic Learning” one of the bestselling books on Amazon and a must-read that provoked an international conversation about the ills of the education systems globally.
Muganga attended Makerere University Kampala from where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science Economics and Rural Economy (1998-2001). Later, he proceeded with school at Makerere University from where he attained a Master’s Degree in Economic Policy Management (EPM), 2005-2007.
2011, IFSE Institute: Certificate Canadian Investment Fund Course (CIFC). Still, in 2011, he attended Georgia Brown College from where he obtained a Certificate in instructing adults (Teaching and Training).
2012-2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) Educational Administration and Leadership, Educational Policy Studies from the University of Alberta.
Dr Muganga provides independent policy advice, analysis, clear and user friendly research work.
He earned a name in Canada, Ethiopia, and Rwanda as a result of his service and he’s very talented and skilled in identifying and explaining strategy issues, researching contentious issues and explaining complex policies.
Dr Muganga is much interested in human capital development and improving human life quality and his major focus is development, planning, implementation, policy assessment and research studies.
Here, Dr Muganga works hand in hand with think tanks, universities, policy institutes, multi-national development agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations, international aid organizations, education managers, administrators, leaders, policymakers, students, parents, community members, and governments to develop, implement and support Authentic Learning.
Muganga also renders support to curriculum experts, teaching facilitators, independent citizens searching for solutions to better the education system to deliver meaningful learning and trainers.
His advice is mainly focused on the urgency to equip learners with the skills needed to address challenges facing the 21st century.
Dr Muganga plans to create centres of education, innovation, set up modern schools, and restructure classrooms to make learning relevant to the real world as well as develop a common 21st Century language for teaching and learning.
He advocates for a revolutionized education model that would see learners’ individuality to empower them such that they traverse their future into real success and meaningful life. Dr Muganga draws information from research done by educational experts.
Dr Muganga worked as a Performance Management Specialist for 4 years and 10 months since Feb 2017, in Edmonton, Canada. Then from August 2014-Feb 2017, he served as Program and Policy Advisor still in Edmonton, Canada.
May 2013-May 2014, Dr Muganga worked as the Acting Executive Director at Edmonton Multicultural Coalition.
He’s best at creating solid partnerships and effective working relations between various communities and organizations to successfully develop and deliver capacity building, recreation and social support opportunities.
June 2012-December 2013, Dr Muganga served as the Program Manager in Edmonton, Canada leading, managing and implementing programs whose goal was to make Edmonton safe habitat, work, play for humans of all cultural backgrounds through the Multicultural Coalition in partnership with Edmonton Police Service (EPS), REACH Edmonton and City of Edmonton Community Services.
About Post Author
