The CEDAT Principal and Deputy Principal pose for a photo with Principal Investigators and the 2024 PhD graduates of the DUT/Mak Research Collaboration
A team from Durban University of Technology (DUT) was at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology for a face to face interaction with the students on the research collaboration between Makerere University and DUT. On Wednesday September 25th , 2024, Prof. Samuel Kikafalimani, the Principal Investigator held an interaction with the college Principal Prof Moses Musinguzi, the Dean, School of the Built Environment Assoc. Prof. Anthony Gidudu and other staff from the Department of Construction Economics and Management as well as the beneficiaries to give an update on the progress.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi in his remarks observed that as a county Uganda had ignored PhD. training which he said is part of higher education training. He said it is of recent that Makerere University has improved on the number of PhDs graduating. With the ten PhDs on the program, this was a move in the right direction as people get trained in undertaking research, thinking and analytical skills. He noted that the department of Construction Economics and Management which had hitherto been severely understaffed was benefiting greatly from the program and urged the professionals out in the field to come and join the academia and become more engaged in research output.
‘Forging collaboration at university is not easy and more so this which comes with this level of funding and support’, he said while appreciating the effort by Dr. Nathan Kibwami, the Head of Department CEM, in brining on board the DUT/Mak collaboration. We need to build on such collaborations and address larger problems that affect our counties and communities, he opined.
While addressing himself to the PhD students, majority of whom are staff, the Principal noted that they were taking the drivers’ seat and therefore the main engine of the collaboration. As primary beneficiaries, it is your responsibility to ensure that the collaboration runs as expected’, he said.
Dr. Nathan Kibwami, the Head of the Department of Construction Economics and Management who is also the Co-PI of the DUT/ Makerere Research Collaboration said the partnership has been in existed since 2018. He said the team from DUT was at the college to interact with students on the ongoing program as well as prospective students. He highlighted other activities as outlined in the collaboration including sharing research papers and student exchange programs from which the CEM department had benefited a lot citing the attainment of two PhDs amongst the staff. He mentioned that students from South Africa were expected to come to CEDAT in December to interact with their counter parts here.
Prof. Samuel Kikafalimani said DUT was at CEDAT for a one week face to face interaction. He noted that DUT values capacity development of nations particularly on the African continent, while recognizing that the minimum qualification for academic staff was set at a PhD at DUT and Makerere universities, and hence the importance of staff attaining PhDs. He said the other area in the collaboration was the enrichment of research through partnerships with different parts of the continent. He commended the support from management which enabled the renewal of the MoU for another five years.