MUBS establishing fully online academic programs
The collaboration is significant and marks a stride towards modernizing education delivery in response to the evolving landscape of learning.
KAMPALA - On August 30th, 2023, Makerere University College of Education and External Studies, specifically the Institute of Open, Distance and eLearning (IoDeL), embarked on a transformative journey in partnership with the faculty members of Makerere University Business School (MUBS). Their goal is to transition from traditional face-to-face teaching to a comprehensive online format. This initiative seeks to integrate all MUBS courses onto the Makerere University Business School E Learning Platform (MUBSEP).
The collaboration is significant and marks a stride towards modernizing education delivery in response to the evolving landscape of learning. Prof. Kituyi Mayoka, the Dean of the Faculty of Vocational and Distance Education at Makerere University Business School, expressed their intention to adapt to the changing educational climate by offering online programs. He highlighted that they have been eager to venture into fully online programs but legal regulations require universities to be accredited before launching online courses, with the National Council for Higher Education responsible for such accreditations. Prof. Mayoka recounted how MUBS had previously run Distance Education Programs that were discontinued due to technological advancements.
This led him to recognize the potential of online education, especially as a means to accommodate the growing demand for popular programs like Bachelor and Masters of Business Administration. These programs have seen an influx of over 10,000 applications, which the existing physical infrastructure cannot adequately accommodate.
Prof. Mayoka outlined MUBS' vision of establishing fully online academic programs. This would allow students to visit the campus solely for admission purposes and during graduation, thereby eliminating the need for physical attendance for lectures or housing on campus. To achieve this, MUBS is actively training its teaching staff to adapt traditional face-to-face courses into effective online programs. These newly developed courses will be submitted to the Makerere University Senate for approval and subsequently forwarded to the National Council For Higher Education for accreditation.
Meanwhile, Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Director of IoDeL, highlighted the instructional rigor that will characterize the online courses. The courses will be meticulously designed, with facilitators playing a crucial role in their development. Dr. Godfrey Mayende led discussions on the detailed design document (part 1), while Dr. Samuel Siminyu focused on determining characteristics and identifying the target audience (part 2). Dr. Jamiah Mayanja contributed to the detailed design document (part 2) by defining Module-wide Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs). Mr. Patrick Lugemwa discussed aligning course topics with the established ILOs.
Dr. Harriet Nabushawo was responsible for crafting the course outline, and Mr. Richard Kajumbula addressed finding and organizing resources, including Open Educational Resources (OERs) and the Constructive Alignment Table. Dr. Nazarius Turyakira and Dr. Harriet Nabushawo both shared insights on fitting the course within the available time frame, while Dr. Harriet Nabushawo continued to contribute by discussing detailed activity pages. Mr. Arthur Mugisha concluded the capacity-building workshop by discussing the study guide.
This transformative initiative represents Makerere University Business School's commitment to modernizing education and keeping pace with technological advancements. By providing students with the option of pursuing their education online, MUBS aims to enhance accessibility and flexibility while ensuring the quality of instruction. This partnership between Makerere University College of Education and External Studies and Makerere University Business School signifies a promising step towards the future of education in Uganda and beyond.
