42 NV ADVERTISER SUPPLEMENT Friday, August 28, 2020 NKOZI READY TO OFFER way forward The “after CovId-19 pandemic” will be driven by the digital industrial revolution. ONLINE LECTURES Educational institutions, including PhOTO By OWEN WAgABAzA Uganda Martyrs In March, this year, the University, Nkozi, Government closed complete. One avenue is (UMU) to keep up in education institutions for those who can afford the highly competitive as a preventive measure the online platform; those higher education to mitigate the spread who are unable due to space, will have to of CovId-19. However, lack of data or capacity to invest substantially in recently, the National access online teaching due ICT both in soft and Council for Higher to lack of smart phones, hardware capacities. Education approved several they are encouraged to As UMU, this is our institutions of higher link with our different focus in the short- learning to start teaching campuses throughout the term and long-term through e-learning. OWEn country to access online strategy. It is our Wagabaza spoke to the teaching. hope that a good Rev dr Christopher Acaali At these campuses, number of our courses Mukidi, the academic students can pick their will be conducted registrar of Uganda course works and take- online even after Martyrs University home examinations. We CovId-19. Special (UMU), Nkozi on how have campuses in: Kabale, consideration shall be prepared they are in regard Fort Portal, Masaka, Nkozi, put on postgraduate to offering an e-learning Rubaga, Mother Kevin programmes. programme. Below is the Postgraduate Medical Besides the half- except School, Nsambya, Mbale tuition bursaries and Ngetta (Lira). and the Government E-learning is the trend Those who will fail to loan scheme, Uganda right now. Were you not access these drop-off Martyrs University taken by surprise? centres, will have to wait, is also having other Uganda Martyrs University, until the situation returns opportunities, where we were a bit lucky to normal for them to pick students, after being because we were already from where they left. admitted by UMU, can implementing two projects, beneit from a loan namely: Transforming any other information that will cover their Employability for Social you would want to share tuition, functional fees Change in East Africa with the public? and research, among (TESCEA) and Pedagogical Rev Dr Christopher acaali Mukidi The National Council for others. Leadership in Africa higher Education (NChE) Students who access (PEDAL) that focused approved our application to the loan through these on training lecturers part of their course and The requirements of the and e-learning modes. start teaching online. opportunities will be on carrying out online programme requirements. policy are in addition to While 63.9% of the staff Uganda Martyrs required to apply for teaching and learning. the normal expectations are comfortable with University is among the few the loan after they Many of our lecturers How prepared is nkozi in on faculties, schools and e-learning, 68.7% of staff universities and institutions have been admitted had already received terms of infrastructure institutes. require training support in that have been approved by for the course of their the training and it was, and student Currently, Uganda facilitating e-learning. the NChE to start teaching offer. therefore, easy for them to preparedness? Martyrs University has the Based on the findings of online. Any student can transit to online teaching. The shift from the necessary infrastructure to the survey, it is established UMU is also offering half- apply for a loan. The challenge, however, traditional face-to-face support the open distance that students and staff of tuition bursaries for all the Students who want to was on bringing students mode of teaching and and e-learning system. Uganda Martyrs University different programmes at access the loan need on board. With time, many learning, to remote On student preparedness, are willing to and have the undergraduate level at to apply for the course students came on board as learning mode requires a a survey on the willingness the requisite capacity all our campuses except now. Payment of per the survey. The other policy framework to guide of students and capacity to continue engaging in Lubaga and Nsambya. the loan will be after challenge was and still is the staff and students of staff to engage in ODeL remote education, through The half-tuition bursaries they have graduated that courses that are lab- to navigate through this system was conducted last ODeL system. can be obtained through and are employed. based and practice-based journey successfully. month. The decline in percentage the different categories The arrangement pose a challenge for the Cognizant of this This survey followed a of readiness to engage including Catholic Dioceses, works almost like University. need, UMU developed a baseline survey carried in online teaching and Religious institutions, the government loan Nonetheless, based on comprehensive Information out in May, to determine learning from 70% to kingdoms, Catholic schools, scheme. the above reality, UMU and communications the level of engagement 68.3% can be explained alumni, staff of UMU developed a framework for technology (ICT) policy of staff and students by the growing economic and parents, who have faculties to adopt unique and strategy in which in the remote teaching hardships of parents supported more than one chartered universities that approaches to practice- an e-learning policy is and learning activities of and sponsors to support student at UMU. is benefiting from the loan based, lab-based and work- enshrined. The UMU UMU. The baseline survey students. Applicants are advised scheme. based teaching, supervision e-learning Policy was revealed that 70% of the With the easing of to reach out to the UMU All students admitted on and assessment while developed to facilitate and staff and students were lockdown restrictions, campuses, education science programmes and observing academic and support e-learning through participating in the remote more people are getting secretaries of catholic special needs education professional standards the use of information and learning activities. back to their jobs Moreover, dioceses and UMU co- programmes are eligible to during the COVID-19 period. communication technology. Following this study, it the planned capacity ordinators in every diocese. apply for the government The guidelines apply to the The policy applies to all was deemed necessary to building activities once We are currently receiving loan scheme. different laboratory-based e-learning and blended conduct another survey to implemented will enhance application forms from For half bursaries, activities, such as science learning courses, degree/ establish the current status a more robust engagement applicants in the areas of government loan scheme experiments, computer certificate programmes of readiness by students of students and staff in health sciences, education, and any other information programming, studio works offered by Uganda Martyrs and capacity of staff to ODeL social sciences, business, you may need to know and work-based activities University. continue with e-learning. agriculture, science, in regard to applications, such as internships, The policy outlines the The July survey has What are you doing journalism and mass admissions or for any industrial placement, minimum requirements revealed that 68.3% of the to make sure that no communications and ethics. other information, please action researches and that the university students are comfortable to student is left is behind? The deadline for receiving email us at registrar@ school practice undertaken expects should be met by continue studying remotely We have provided different applications is September umu.ac.ug or call: by students of Uganda schools/faculties when through the traditional avenues, where students 30, 2020. 0772461386, 0706124509, Martyrs University as delivering e-learning. distance education mode can join and be helped to UMU is also one of the 0771609320.