UEW Initiates Strategic Partnership with Makerere University
A delegation from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) visited Makerere University. The UEW delegation led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, engaged the leadership of Makerere in Kampala in discussions focused on building a sustainable framework for joint research, postgraduate training and institutional development.
At the core of the engagement was a deliberate push to deepen research collaboration. Both universities explored mechanisms to jointly develop and execute research projects, particularly through collaborative grant sourcing. This approach is expected to enhance access to international research funding while pooling intellectual and institutional resources across borders.
Equally significant was the emphasis on postgraduate education. The two institutions outlined plans for joint supervision of Master’s and PhD candidates alongside shared responsibilities in thesis examination and academic assessments. This model is designed to improve research quality, strengthen academic rigour and expose postgraduate students to broader scholarly networks.
The discussions also advanced proposals for staff and student mobility with structured exchange programmes aimed at enriching teaching, learning and research experiences. In addition, both sides considered co-organising academic conferences, workshops and seminars as platforms for knowledge exchange and visibility within the global academic community.
A notable dimension of the talks was the intention to develop joint academic programmes including dual-degree pathways. This signals a move towards deeper academic integration, where curricula and qualifications are co-designed to meet international standards while addressing regional development needs.
Beyond teaching and research, the engagement extended into strategic areas of societal relevance. The two universities identified opportunities for collaboration in public health and disease control research as well as the potential establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority fields. These initiatives are expected to align academic work more directly with national and continental development challenges.
A key outcome of the visit was the development of a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which formalises the areas of cooperation into a structured implementation framework. The document is currently undergoing institutional review at Makerere and once approved, will anchor a long-term partnership with clear deliverables and accountability mechanisms.
This visit reflects UEW’s broader institutional strategy to reposition itself within the global higher education landscape through targeted partnerships that deliver measurable academic and developmental impact.
