The deputy speaker of parliament Hon Thomas Tayebwa has urged universities and other higher institutions of learning to focus on groundbreaking innovations and building research systems.
He underscored the importance of ground-breaking research in offering solutions for the country’s problems.
”I want to urge chairman, the directors and the university management to invest more in research so that we can do a ground breaking research that what will help us to get solutions for Uganda otherwise most of the research we have in this country is funded by the foreigners and these only funds research that serve their interest, so as government, as private sector, as investors to invest in research that is tailor-made to address our issues as Uganda and Africa at large and that is the only way we shall be transformative and only way we shall make magical contribution to the transformation of our country,’ Tayebwa noted.
He made the call while presiding over the eighth graduation ceremony of Victoria University.
The Deputy speaker went on to commend Victoria University for standing solid on extending desired and professional skills to students that they would apply to shape their future.
He also urged the university management to maintain quality, and praised the proprietor of Victoria University, Dr. Sudir Ruparelia for always ensuring quality in all his business ventures.
”On the issue of quality kindly I urge you not to allow any compromise because the chairman is known for quality. I wouldn’t come here, because I am invited by many universities, and i don’t go there because I don’t want to associate my name and the next day you are questioned for quality. So, I want to thank you for that and please maintain it,” he said.
Tayebwa also urged the University to focus more on quality assurance, lecturer- student ratio, teaching space, and mentorship among others.
In his remarks, university’s vice chancellor, Dr. Lawrence Muganga asked the graduands to leverage on technology including artificial intelligence to transform their communities.
He stressed that the university will continue to put more emphasis of extending technological skills to students.
The graduation at speak resort Munyonyo saw over 1470 students awarded with Masters Degrees, Bachelors, diplomas and certificates in different disciplines composing of 778 female and 692 male students.
A total of 129 students were awarded with Masters, 506 (bachelors), 141 (diplomas), and 694 (certificates). In total males were 692 and female 778.
Dr. Ruparelia, the proprietor of the university was among the dignitaries at the event.