Brian Ssenoga, a computer engineering student sneers at the idea. He says that it will lead to more confusion in the course than they've already had. He said, “We’ve been studying with telecom engineers every first semester of the three years we have been here. There are course units we study and are not related to our course at all. Merging the two will just bring more confusion.”
There are
mixed reactions among Makerere University students following a decision by the
administration to restructure a number of underground courses. The university
has already halted the advertisement of 18 undergraduate courses for the next
academic year 2021/2022.
The move is in line with
the university council decision approved in August 2020 to restructure 20
undergraduate programs, which would see the courses at the university reduce
from 82 to 62 in a new curriculum. Universities are required to review their curriculum
every three to five years to adapt to the changes in society and the economy.
The affected courses include among others Bachelor of
library and information sciences, Bachelor of archives and records management, Bachelor
of Science in construction management, Bachelor of Community psychology, Bachelor
of Arts in development economics, Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication
engineering, Bachelor of computer engineering and Bachelor of environmental
science.
In a March 25th, 2021 letters to college principals that
have been running the affected courses, Makerere University Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Barnabas Nawangwe asked them to submit their curricular for the restructured
programs to the Senate by May 15th, 2021.
Prof Umar Kakumba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics
Makerere University, says courses like Bachelor of Community Psychology and
Industrial and Organizational Psychology will be merged under Clinical
Psychology. Apparently, the school of Psychology has three undergraduate
programs.
While some students have welcomed the move to merge the courses, some are
worried about what will be left of the School. Community Psychology, according
to the course outlines produces people that support the wellbeing of people's
mental health in society. They address challenges such as addiction,
depression, therapy for victims to torture and influence behaviour change in
society.
Industrial and Organizational Psychology on the other hand addresses human resource
needs in the corporate community. Davin Nuwagaba, a second-year student of
Community Psychology, says that this is disappointing to her since the
community may perceive her course as useless once in the job market.
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She also adds that the specialization they've had gives them in-depth exposure
into their specialities unlike after the merger where they might just gross
over issues. On the contrary, David Mugisha, a second-year student of Bachelor
of Industrial and Organization Psychology has welcomed the move looking at it
as a way of consolidation, saying the merger will produce holistic
psychologists.
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Bachelor of Telecom Engineering will be fused with Electrical Engineering to
form Bachelor of Science of Computer and Communications Engineering. However,
the courses will stand alone at the Masters Level. Betty Nambalibwa, a third-year student of Bachelor of Telecom Engineering is optimistic about the
restructuring. She says this will make the course more practical from the
onset.
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Brian Ssenoga, a computer engineering student sneers at the idea. He says that
it will lead to more confusion in the course than they've already had. He said,
“We’ve been studying with telecom engineers every first semester of the three
years we have been here. There are course units we study and are not related to
our course at all. Merging the two will just bring more confusion.”
But Samuel Kimeze, a fourth-year student pursuing the same course
feels the courses should have been merged earlier enough when he had just
joined. He says this will give them as students a wide scope of knowledge,
which makes them fit for the job market.
Prof . Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal of the College of Engineering,
Design, Art and Technology notes that the new program will emphasize problem-based
learning. He says the curriculum has already been developed but the new program
is still subject to approval.
Prof. Kakumba notes that the courses are undergoing
restructuring for two reasons, one being to consolidate and strengthen the available
programs. “It is not that the courses are useless but we want to make them
stronger by restructuring them under the traditional courses,” he said.
He also added that the University wishes to reduce over specialization in
undergraduate programs as some courses will be maintained at the Masters level
only. As Makerere University prepares to celebrate 100 years in 2022, the
Quality Assurance and gender mainstreaming committee appointed to look into
restructuring noted in March 2020 that the process aims at supporting a
curriculum that fosters research in the University.
The committee also added
that there was a need to reduce duplication and support efficient utilization
of human and financial resources.
Shiphrah Kwagala
Freelancer