Uganda Christian University (UCU) community is in a joyous mood following the accreditation of a number of its academic programmes by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
According to the Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Aaron Mushengyezi, there are three PhD programmes out of the many academic programmes that have been accredited.
Among the celebrated ones, is the PhD in Journalism, Media and Communication which Prof. Monica Chibita, the dean of the school of Journalism, Media and Communication says UCU is the second university in Uganda to have it enrolled after Makerere.
Other programmes are; PhD in Development Studies and a PhD in Business Administration which have just been renewed.
UCU’s Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi says apart from the PhDs, NCHE also accredited other programmes whereby some are brand new and others were just renewed.
The new accredited academic programmes include; Master of Nursing Science-Nursing Education, Bachelor of Nursing Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Literature and Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministries. Others are; Doctor of Philosophy degree in Theology, Master of Art in African Studies, Higher Education Certificate-Physical Studies, Master of Literature and Doctor of Ministry.
The renewed programmes are; Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics, Master of Social Work, Master of Library and Information Science and Bachelor of Laws.
During a press briefing held at UCU main Campus in Mukono, Mushengyezi said that the accreditation was effected on August 21, 2023.
In the letter to UCU’s Vice Chancellor dated September 6, the Executive Director for NCHE, Rev. Canon Dr. Alex Kagume confirmed the approval of the above programmes.
“I am pleased to inform you that after due consideration, Council at its 72nd meeting of August 21, under Minute 553/72/2023 accredited these academic programmes for the specified number of students and the stated period with effect from August 21, 2023,” part of the letter reads.
Kagume added: “I wish to remind you that under section 119(A) of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 as amended, you shall not run any academic programs that have not been accredited by the NCHE.”
He therefore urged the university staff members to implement these programmes in accordance with the regulations of NCHE adding that the officers of the NCHE shall review the implementation during their periodic administrative and monitoring visits to the university.
Mushengyezi said that the university is set to commence with these new accredited academic programmes even before the end of this year.
“We came up with these developments as a result of collaboration with our partner universities including University of KwaZulu Natal, University of Rwanda and NLA in Norway. We shall therefore have full time professors and others who will be conducting lessons and help in research via online from those universities,” he said.
Prof. Chibita said that the accreditation of the PhD in Journalism, Media and Communication and other programmes came as a result of satisfaction by the NCHE that UCU meets all the requirements to offer academic training at that level.
“The UCU PhD in Journalism, Media and Communication is a culmination of a consultative needs assessment which involved industry practitioners, academics, current and prospective students. The assessment established that indeed there was demand for PhD training in communication in the country, with only one university currently offering PhD by research,” she said.
She further affirmed that; “This programme seeks to fill a gap in teaching, research and supervision at institutions of higher education in the East African region, using contextual curricular and innovative methods of delivery.”
Vincent Kisenyi, the acting Director of Academic Affairs said the desire to have PhD in Business Administration is meant to enrich research and professionalism in business.
“We shall have learners specialise in finance, accounting, procurement and logistics management and in strategic management which are very critical areas within business where we need more research in order to help give a direction to our growing economy,” Kisenyi said.
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