Makerere University has made it simple for students wishing to pursue their masters and degree courses in selected prestigious Universities in India through electronic distance learning.

This has been made possible by the management of Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences entering memorandum of understanding with the Government of India where the later equipped the E- leaning centre for virtual lectures to take place for students based in the Country.

Background

The Principal of the School Prof Tonny Oyana explaining modalities of the facility during its launch recently noted that there has been a bilateral agreement between Makerere University and the government of India to accommodate students who are given scholarships to study in Universities in India to do so virtually since 2006.

The e-learning centre will serve as the regional coordinating centre for broadcasting lectures from India to students in 19 African countries with Uganda being a host country.

The aim of this initiative is to share Indian expertise in the fields of tele-education and tele- health care through web-based infrastructure with the African countries in order to accelerate socio- economic development of Africa.

There has been previous intakes where the Indian government offers 736 intakes annually and so far 1,493 students have graduated in various disciplines.

However the two parties have now gone ahead to set a web based facility which is well equipped with video conferencing classroom and examination room. This is a bilateral agreement under a five year project with funding worth 60,000 US dollars from the Indian government.

How the centre operates.

Mr Robert Tuhaise the e-learning centre coordinator explained that there are two intakes in a year with each accommodating over 700 students.  So far under this new arrangement about 736 students have been admitted under full scholarship and are already undergoing their studies.

Interested students can access application information by logging into the website www.ilearn.gov.in

According to the arrangement, students are at privilege to attend lessons virtually with lecturers from India at the video conference room in Makerere college of Computing and Information sciences or using their laptops wherever they may be. What is important is to obtain a computer/laptop and internet.

The same applies during exam time where one may opt to come and do exams at the Institute or wherever one may be.

The Universities in India offering the scholarships include JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, SASTRA University, Amity University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bharati Vidyapeeth University and Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune University.

The courses offered include Architecture and planning, Continued Medical Education, Engineering and Technology, Education, Humanities and Arts, Law, Management and commerce and Maths and Science among others.

There are 19 countries across the African continent benefiting from this initiative with most participating students coming from Uganda because they have embraced the opportunity fully.

The management of the Institute is calling upon interested students to apply for the next intake which is due early next year.

The State Minister for Education John Chrysestom Muyingo while officiating the launch said this initiative a milestone in Education sector of the country because E- learning is now the way to go.

“This is a new era of digital migration at Makerere University and I call the students to embrace this initiative because the centre has all the IT facilities to provide a conducive learning environment. Secondly the centre will allow students a holistic education SUPPORTED BY ict and reliable internet connectivity,”

He noted that it has become impossible to separate ICT from learning process in the Country and mainstreaming of technology is therefore something which education institutions must be working towards over time.

“Globalization has brought the world closer than ever before, prosperity in one part of the world can not last long if it is contained to only a few citizens. It is therefore important that we build partnership that will draw expertise from across the globe with India being an example,” he noted.

The Minister of External Affairs government of India V. Muraleedharan noted that the government of India is committed to giving scholarships to Ugandan citizens’ anuslly

Every year over 150 slots and given to Ugandan nationals to go to India to pursue short certificate courses in various disciplines and over 35 scholarships for degree and maters courses.

According to him the E- learning centre has come in handy with increased number of scholarships which Ugandan citizens must embrace.