The role of University Education in Economic development and the need for quality

University Education in Busoga

Majid BatambuzeRDC Budaka

Introduction

• Over the last couple of decades, “knowledge economy” has given rise to new economic, social, political and cultural changes to which nations, regions and higher education systems are responding to making “HUMAN CAPITAL” as important as technological innovations.

Knowledge economy

• Knowledge production, accumulation, transfer and application have become the major factors in social-economic development.

• Higher Education Institutions and especially universities are challenged to lead in the direction of enabling countries train human capital for development.

Higher Education Participation Rates

1 Developed Countries 50%2 Sub- Saharan Countries

including Uganda 5%

3 Busoga 3%Source; Africa Now, 2013

Quotes on University Education

Kofi Annan: “The University must become a primary tool for Africa’s development in the new century. Universities can help develop African Expertise; they can enhance the analysis of African problems; strengthen domestic institutions; serve as a model environment for practice of good governance, conflict resolution and respect for human rights, enable African academics to play an active part in the global community of scholars”.

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere

• “A university is an institution of higher learning, a place where people’s minds are trained for clear, independent thinking, for analysis, and problem solving at the highest level.”

T.M. Yusuf (1973

• A truly African University must be one which, while acknowledging the need to transform Africa into the 21st century, must yet realize that it can best achieve the results by completely identifying itself with the realities of a predominantly rural setting and the aspirations of an unsophisticated but highly expectant people.

How then do universities effect social-economic development?

The discourse of “knowledge economy” emphasizes the shift to the following:• Knowledge intensive high skills labour force• International circulation of brains• Life-long learning• Transferable skills and competences• Knowledge management• Individual and organizational capacity

University education influences economic development in the following ways;

• Creates a high caliber workforce• Creates knowledge and disseminates research and promotes

technology transfer• Supports businesses• Boosts the local economies through direct expenditures by

institutions, their employees and students• Confers both financial and non-financial benefits to the

individual who pursues an advanced education and to society in general.

• Promotes livelihood development and liveable communitees

What are the benefits that accrue to individuals who acquire a university degree and what are the benefits to a society that has better educated people living in it?

Monetary benefits• Higher Earnings• High interest on capital invested in education• Enhanced worker productivity which

translates into higher output and therefore higher incomes

Non-monetary benefits

• Higher Employability• Access to information • Fringe benefits• Better quality of working conditions• Wider, rational and efficient consumer choices• Extensive job searches resulting into a better

match between company and individual

Non-monetary benefits cont’d

• Greater research and development activities• Less reliance on welfare programs and international aid• Intergenerational effects. The educational attainment

and cognitive development of children is greatly affected by the educational attainment of their parents.

• Health benefits; the health of individual, spouse and children are positively related to educational attainment

• Desired and manageable family size

Possible Negative effects

• Can create and exacerbate disparities in wealth and opportunity between rural and urban areas, genders, ethnicities, social classes and generations

• It can create a “Diploma disease”. This is the over reliance in the selection process on formal qualifications sometimes to the detriment of ability.

• Primitive accumulation of certificates with little regard to application. People strive for constantly for higher degrees just for the sake of having one. Education in this way then becomes simply a ritualistic process of accumulating qualifications.

• Educated unemployed. There can be an oversupply of graduates with the same degrees and qualifications

Negative impact cont’d.

• Brain drain occurs as many skilled graduates emigrate to escape unemployment and underemployment.

• Rapid expansion of university education can create can negatively impact on the quality of education outcomes.

This raises the question of the state of university education in Busoga? What do we have in terms of quality university education?

• Quality as in exceptional• Quality as fitness for purpose• Quality as value for money• Quality as transformative

The public universities and university projects in Uganda

• Makerere University, Kampala; 1922• Metropolitan Universal Business School (MUBS),

1997• Mbarara University of Science and Technology,

Mbarara; 1989• Gulu University, 2002• Kyambogo University, Kyambogo, Kampala, 2003• Busitema University, Busitema, 2007• Muni University, Arua, 2012• Soroti University of science and Technology, 2013

Private Universities in Uganda

• African Bible College, Lubowa, Wakiso, 2005 • African Graduate Unversity, Kampala• Aga Khan University, Kampala, 2001• All Saints Univesity, Lira, 2008• Ankole Western University, Kabwohe, 2005• Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, 2003• Bugema University, Luweero, 1997 • Busoga University, Iganga, 1999• Cavendish University, Kampala

Private Universities Cont’d

• Internationals School of Business and Technology, Kampala

• International Health sciences University, Kampala, 2008• Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale, 1988• Kabale University, Kabale, 2005• Kampala International University, 2001• Kampala University, 2005• Kumi University, Kumi, 1999• Muteesa 1 Royal University, Masaka, 2007• Mountains of the moon University, Fort Portal, 2005

More private Universities

• Ndejje University, Luweero, 1992• Nkumba University, Entebbe, 1999• Rural University, for Women, Kagadi, 2007• St. Augustine International University, Kampala, 2012• St. Lawrence University, Kampala, 2006• Uganda Christian University, Mukono, 1993• Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, 1993• Uganda Pentecostal University, Fort Portal, 2005• Uganda Technology and Management Institute, Kampala, 2012• Victoria University, Kamwokya, Kampala, 2012• Virtual University of Uganda, Muyenga, Kampala, 2012

Military Universities

• University of military sciences, Lugazi, 2007

Degree awarding non-university Institutions

• Uganda Management Institute, (UMI), Kampala, 1969

• Kigumba Petroleum Institute, Kiryandongo, 2009

• India Africa Institute of Foreign Trade, Kampala, 2011

Universities in Busoga

• Busoga University • Fairland university,

Branches of Other Universities or Study Centresin Busoga

• Busitema University, Namasagali, Kamuli• Kampala International University, Jinja• Kampala University, Jinja• Makerere University• MUBS, Narambhai, Jinja• Others

Weaknesses and Constraints

• They lack the requisite infrastructure • Lack computers and basic facilities for university education• Overcrowded• Lack adequate teaching aides and materials• Have no research libraries• Underfunded• Low caliber lecturers• Suffer from poor institutional management• Poor manpower• Low wages leading to loss of motivation

Dire as the situation is, which then is the way forward?

• Encourage increased enrolment of Basoga students into institutions of high learning, in particular quality substantive universities.

• Policy makers must not only provide basic education but strengthen university education in Busoga.

• Intensify the search for a private developer with the means to set a quality substantive private university in Busoga.

• Agitate for a public university in Busoga.

Jinja Senior Secondary School.

• It is well located in a quiet studious environment• It is large enough to accommodate a university with space

to construct lecture halls, an administrative headquarters and other support facilities.

• It is within close proximity to the following institutions; • School of Nursing and Midwifery• Hotel & Tourism Training Institute, Crested Crane• School of Laboratory Studies (Malaria Unit)• IDA Vocational Training Institute• Jinja Referral hospital

International University Of Jinja

Location;• Jinja SS; as Administrative headquarters and

Main Campus• Crested Crane; Faculty of Tourism & Hotel

Management• Malaria Unit; School of Health Sciences• IDA, Walukuba; Faculty of Technology• Jinja Hospital; Teaching hospital

What can Basoga Twegaite do today about this?

• Pass a resolution to have Jinja SS become a Public University

• Choose a focal person to steer this resolution• Agree on a steering committee of this

proposal • Task the steering committee to make a write

up and present it to the Minister for Education and His Excellency, the President

Barack Obama

“Change will not come if we wait some other person, or if we wait some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.”

THANK YOU