The main objective of the ICT-4MRPQ project:
To strengthen Uganda’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) capacity to use ICT in Masters’ research journey quality management processes and devise Policy reforms for relevant high-quality research outputs.
Rationale:
The ICT-4MRPQ project will strengthen quality and relevance of masters’ students research at Uganda’s HEIs through improved regulative / policy mandate of Uganda’s National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and integration of ICT usage into managing the students’ research journey. That is, student enrolment into the research project, research idea generation, supervisor allocation, supervision records management, up to post assessment / viva-voce. Additionally, the project emphasizes a need for Green Deal (that is moving towards zero carbon and environmental responsibility). In this context, the project will contribute to this by using ICT / technology (E-Supervision, Mobile App., and Virtual meetings to reduce carbon dioxide from physical transport movements) to close master’s research quality gaps, which include: (i) student-supervisor interaction records management, (ii) redundancies in supervisor-student skills transfer, (iii) research time redundancy, & (iv) transparency in viva-voce conduct. Of specific interest, the project will stimulate & guide masters’ research engagements in neglected yet relevant to Uganda’s – Green Deal & National development priorities which are less researched. Examples of neglected areas include innovations into green transition, climate change and sustainable energy, circular economy, among others. Benchmarking and utilization of our European counterparts potentially helps in addressing this.
Key project Activities:
- Project Inception, Coordination & Management
- Stakeholder Mapping, Profiling and Engagement
- National Research & University Policy Reviews
- Developing Research Methods Manuals for Staff & Students
- Developing an E-Supervision Platform
- Development of a Connecting Mobile App
- Compiling a Compendium of Nationally Relevant Research Priorities
- Staff Learning Mobility & Capacity Building
- Dissemination
Beneficiaries:
5 Universities (3 from Uganda – MUBS, MAK & MUST; 1 Portugal – ULisboa; 1 Netherlands – VU, Amsterdam). Uganda HEIs counterparts will benefit from demonstrated increased knowledge, mobility & adoption of new technologies while the European partners will benefit from knowledge and internationalization. At least 700 staff and 1,500 students inter-connected on a NCHE approved Research E-Supervision Platform; 800 masters students conduct their timely research; 500 supervisors & 100 administrative staff improve their work efficiency and interaction with students; 300 internal and 200 external examiners conduct timely assessment of research reports and viva-voce; NCHE with moderate level of interest will enhance capacity and accreditation; 2 employers (Kyazze, Kankaka & Co. Advocates & UCCSRI Ltd) will upgrade their sustainable development data tracking skills.
Key outputs: (1) A revised national master research policy framework; (2) NCHE approved E-Supervision Platform. (3) A Mobile App. connecting the participating universities.
Short term Results:
- Timely graduation of students; Reduced supervision inconsistencies; Relevant research outputs & Reliable student research assessment processes.
- – increased Capacity & knowledge on using ICT in research processes management & Real-time tracking of masters’ student progress & research data.
- Students: Timely research conduct & behavior; acquisition of relevant analytical skills for employment
- Supervisors: keep proper student-interaction records, pass on appropriate research skills & content.
- Examiners: set dedicated research goals and objectives for research assessments.
Long term results: Enhanced research capacity; Increased stock of relevant & high-quality research; Employable graduates