ICT EDUCATION AT THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA IUIU

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ICT EDUCATION AT THEISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA
(IUIU)

• INSTITUTION REPORT ON

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
PAPER PRESENTED AT A MEETING HELD ON 27th 28th
November 2006 AT JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
By Ahmed Senyonjo P.O.Box 2555, Mbale, Uganda,
Tel [phone], Email
ahmedsenyonjo_at_hotmail.com, or ahmed_at_iuiu.ac.ug
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Objective of the presentation

• Discuss issues of Human Resource Development at
  the Islamic University In Uganda in terms of -
• 1) Capacity building for ICT Education and
  Training
• 2) Mobility of qualified trained staff
• 3) Remuneration.

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University Background

• The University is an Education and Research
  institution.
• The main objective of the university is to
  contribute to human resources development in
  English speaking Sub-Saharan Africa in teaching,
  Research and academic excellence
• It is private but recognized as an International
  university

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University Background-cont

• The University was established by the
  Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
• Started in 1988 with 80 students and currently
  with a student population of over 3000, 40 being
  International students.
• The University has got a main campus in Mbale and
  another campus in Kampala.
• The University employs over 200 academic staff
  both Part and full time staff combined, and
  non-academic staff. Some of our full time
  academic staff come from five different countries
  around Africa

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University Challenges

• As a growing University, it is faced with
• challenges
• Lack of adequate facilities, (e.g power)
• Competition for students and staff from other
  Universities /Private business sector
• Geographical disadvantage from the Capital city
  KampalaIt takes a great effort to attract staff
  to such a place
• Dedicated staff,

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University Challenges Cont

• Academic staff prefer to earn more
• money through short-term strategies
• such as part-time jobs elsewhere
• Staff keep switching from one job
• place to another this has made it very
• expensive and difficult to maintain
• them

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ICT related activities

• Provide instruction in ICT related courses
• Training instructors, technicians and to upgrade
  mid-level and lower-level manpower
• Offer Professional courses as an Academy for
  various programmes.
• Provide consultancy in ICT services in Eastern
  Uganda- to Banks, organizations and companies

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ICT related activities-cont

• Conduct, promote and guide research in ICT
  related fields.
• Promote technical cooperation, exchange technical
  know how and disseminate information through
  short and special courses, seminars, workshops
  and publications.
• Ensure coordination between the objectives of the
  university with other national and international
  institutions

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ICT related Academic Programmes at IUIU

• ICT related academic programmes at IUIU are
  currently offered through the Department of
  Computer science of the Faculty of Science.
  Courses include
• 1) Diploma in computer science and information
  technology DCIT (2years 4 semesters)
• 2) Bachelor of Science in Computer science
• (3years 6 semesters)
• 3) Bachelor of Information Technology BIT
• (3 years 6 semesters
• 4) Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science and
  Information Technology PGD (CIT)
• (1year 2 semesters)

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Human Resource DevelopmentCapacity Building for
ICT.

• Since 2003, the university administration has
  supported efforts of Human resource development
  programs through
• Continuous training through short courses to
  enable staff to improve on their ICT skills,
• Introduction of ICT loan schemes to enable
  university staff acquire computers and other ICT
  related items at an affordable rate and payment
  in installments.
• Provision of ICT Equipment for teaching and
  research (3 modern ICT labs with over 150 Pcs)

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Capacity Building cont.

• Continuous learning by staff through increased
  access to electronic resources online and
  offline-dedicated internet connectivity
• Supported staff development for further studies
  both locally and abroad (at the moment three of
  its former ICT graduates are finalizing Masters
  in Computer Science)

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B. Causes of Mobility of Qualified staff and Way
forward

• With increasing number of universities in Uganda
  and the East African region Competition amongst
  in both public and private universities, it has
  become difficult to maintain ICT professionals at
  institutional level.
• Most of the academic staff at IUIU also hold
  other fulltime jobs in other academic
  institutions. That leaves them with little time
• Poor pay may be one of the causes for staff
  mobility

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Causes of Mobility of Qualified staff Cont.

• Running on contractsThis has got a negative
  impact on the long term commitment on staff
• IUIU utilizes about 20 fulltime and part time
  staff to run its ICT programmes
• 60 ICT and Computer Science graduates are
  produced by IUIU annually since 1997

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C. Remuneration/Salary structure

• ICT academic and technical staff are not given
  preferential payment. The university has a
  statutory salary structure
• Professor and equivalent . IU A1 Associate
  Professor . IU A2
• Senior Lecturer . IU A3
• Lecturer . IU A4
• Assistant Lecturer . IU A5
• Teaching Assistant . IU A6

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Conclusion

• IUIU wishes to remain at the fore front in the
  ICT development in Uganda and the region
• IUIU commends the IUCEA efforts to regionalize of
  Higher Education in the region
• The university acknowledges the rapid changing
  trends in the ICT industry and is determined to
  maintain strong partnerships and collaboration
  with other institutions in the region and far

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THANK YOU

• YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
  IN UGANDA
• AT THE MAIN CAMPUS IN MBALE (CLOSER TO WESTERN
  KENYA) AND AT THE KAMPALA CAMPUS
• www.iuiu.ac.ug