Chancellor Kalonzo Musyoka wants East African Community to harmonise university curriculum

Wiper Democratic Movement Leader Kalonzo Musyoka who is also the Chancellor of Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU) and the management when he presided over the first ever graduation ceremony of the University. Over 80 students graduated in different disciplines including Masters degrees, degrees and advanced diplomas. (PITURE BY DENNIS KAVISU)

A couple of years ago, former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka was part of a dream team that was set to spearhead the realisation of the East African Community dream.

As the first chair of the EAC ministerial committee, his immediate task was to eliminate trade barriers and establish a cohesive region that would foster free mobility of good and services.

Unknown to him at that time was that many years after the elimination of many obstacles to the integration process, he would be ultimate head of an institution of higher learning.

Just three years ago, Kalonzo became the Founding Chancellor of the little-known of Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU).

Established in 2012, the private university now has a student population of 1,049, comprising 417 Masters programme, 165 post graduate diploma, 419 bachelor programme and 48 undergraduate diploma students.

Kalonzo said the EAC integration is now taking its proper dimensions and noted that free mobility of personnel is one of the key achievements.

He added that with the EAC integration efforts, he would wish to see, for instance, lawyers, doctors and other professions opening offices anywhere in the EAC countries.

“We want to see the true spirit of integration. Already many Kenyans are working in Uganda as Tanzanians work in Kenya and Uganda or Rwanda. And being a Chancellor in Uganda goes to affirm my belief in what I stand for in the integration process,” said Kalonzo.

He said he did not foresee the honour coming.

“My name was discussed by the university senate and of course they had several names. This was a year ago. They approached me with their concept on what they are trying to do,” said Kalonzo.

He said his vision of seeing the EAC dream fully realised informed his decision to take up the challenge.

“Being a former vice president, I challenged them that I can only be a chancellor if they intended to open up the university education to the rest of the region,” said Kalonzo.

A week ago, on September 26, he presided over the first graduation ceremony, and hailed efforts being done to ensure EAC dreams are realised.

“I am so proud that what we worked so hard for with my friends President Kikwete and Prime Minister Rugunda to revive East Africa Community is steadily being realised,” said Kalonzo.

Kalonzo said UTAMU has set a great example by appointing him the Chancellor.

Information on the university’s website says Kalonzo is the titular head of the university and as such shall preside over all ceremonies of the university and in the name of the name of UTAMU, confer degrees and other academic tittles and distinctions.

During the first graduation ceremony, Kalonzo conferred degrees on some 84 postgraduate students. Another 100 PhD students are set to graduate next year.

At the ceremony, he also said that UTAMU had demonstrated that a great deal can be accomplished with precision and excellence within a very short amount of time.

“That is rare rare and I applaud you all, especially the people who worked tirelessly to see UTAMU kick off well, set a pace like none other and have made this day possible,” he said, and added that UTAMU is yet to set another precedent, come 1st October 2015.

“The university will install a new Vice Chancellor following the decision by our current Vice Chancellor,  professor Venansius Baryamureeba to step down in May this year.

“For a continent where transition is not known to be our strongest suit, UTAMU demonstrates yet again that transition can be voluntary, well intentioned, healthy and welcome.”

He told the graduands that a graduation ceremony is one of the most memorable events in anybody’s life.

“This ceremony tells you that you are now more equipped to tackle the challenges ahead than when you first came to UTAMU.

“I must remind you that you have been equipped and empowered to be powerful in your time. You are powerful because you have attained knowledge and have the most amazing technology at your disposal, which makes you different from other generations before you,”

He also told them to use that power for grand purposes, get ready to make all the impossible possible and reminded them that “you can create a new world because you have been equipped to innovate, do mighty exploits and change today’s job market for the better.”

Even as he spoke glowingly about the university, and told the graduands that they were empowered and educated people who should walk with their heads held high, he was quick to remind them of the challenges of the job market.

“Be not mistaken, you will face challenges, and it is important that progress is made on all fronts.” he said. “The present world grapples with unemployment, poverty, unnecessary deaths in the absence of simple but yet costly health services.”

He said that they have the power to change all that and should go ahead and “create a world which will be different, which will be much better...create a world where there will be no poverty or no unemployment.”

Even as aspersions are being cast upon the quality of education that is offered by Kenya’s institutions of higher learning, Kalonzo is of the idea that East Africa Community nations need to harmonise university curriculum to enhance cross border movement of students in pursuit of higher education.

This, he feels, will also further foster the integration efforts on the education sector.

He said the spirit of EAC integration must also include reforms in the education for free mobility of labour.

“As the first chair of ministerial committee tasked to jump start the integration what we envisioned was very clear and education must be part of this effort to unite the regional countries,” he said.

He said the potential of universities to train across the region must be unlocked and noted that harmonisation of curriculums is the first step.

“Labour mobility is key to unlocking the potential in the region but the qualification frameworks must be harmonised to make the market accessible for any member of the EAC countries,” said Kalonzo.

He said UTAMU would set up a campus in Kenya and asked the government to allow other universities from other countries to set shop.

“When I brought a cabinet paper to suggest we should allow Aga Khan University to set up a campus in Nairobi many did not understand. Today we all know what the university has achieved in terms of medical training,” said Kalonzo.

He also asked both public and private universities to make higher education affordable and faulted recent reports that the fee may go up.

The statement comes after a validation meeting for the qualification framework for the Eastern Africa region was held in Entebbe, Uganda last year.

The meeting resolved that various qualifications frameworks be harmonised to allow free movement of labour.

A joint report by accrediting agencies in the East African Countries highlighted the importance of the harmonisation initiative.

“The movement of students is becoming more common and academics are offering their services, knowledge, and skills in a greater variety of places.

“It has, therefore, become important that programmes are offered which enable students to study abroad move freely without jeopardising their studies,” reads the joint communication by Kenya’s Commission for Higher Education, Tanzania Commission for Universities and National Council for Higher Education of Uganda.