MAKERERE UNIVERSITY PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM
Statement of opportunity for investment partnership in
The proposed Makerere Africa Institute of Sustainability (MAIoS); a new vehicle for taking Africa into an Ecological Age
Professor Livingstone Luboobi, The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, who is also Chairman of Makerere University Private Sector Forum (MUPSF), has expressed concern over the need to redirect efforts into ecological age as a means of taking the world to one planet. In his call for investment partnerships in the proposed Makerere Africa Institute of Sustainability Professor Luboobi states thus:
‘Global warming and adverse climate change…global food crisis leading to food riots, including in Africa… global oil price hikes…water and air pollution…species extinction…famine, etc. These are some of the signs of our fragile planet due to human instigated development leading to environmental degradation.
In Africa we recognize that a healthy society and continental growing economy juxtaposed to chronic poverty and environmental degradation are a contradiction. Sadly, most sub-Saharan African countries are trapped in this contradiction. Yet Africa can realistically expect to benefit from a global ‘common future’ if the continent’s economic growth and industrialization is less ecologically destructive. With increasing globalization, Africa will continue to experience greater levels of suffering and environmental damage unless we start to promote sustainable development and responsible environmental stewardship.
This calls for a deliberate agenda of sustainable development with environmental stewardship which need joint efforts and integrated interventions. This is the Sustainability Agenda that requires multi- and inter-disciplinary analytic frameworks, dynamic institutional processes and relevant policy responses. The sustainability agenda is timely because our society urgently needs effective deployment of skills and resources for the sake of the human family and the environment.
The Sustainability Agenda is not about diminishing fossil fuels, real as it is. It is not about global food shortage, frightening as the global food crisis is; nor is it about destruction of bio-diversity, serious as this is. Rather, it is fundamentally about leaders equipped and empowered to stand up and be counted to save our One Planet Earth!
It is the challenge of the Sustainability Agenda that Makerere University, endeavours to confront head on through incubation of the proposed Makerere Africa Institute of Sustainability (MAIoS). Envisaged to be a 3-year development, the MAIoS will be a semi-autonomous constituent of Makerere University in partnership with public and private sector institutions through the Makerere University Private Sector Forum (MUPSF).
The Makerere University Private Sector Forum (MUPSF)
Established in April 2006, MUPSF was affirmed by the Munyonyo Declaration of 1st December in 2006 on behalf of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Bank of Uganda (Boo), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), and Competitiveness and Investment Climate Strategy (CICS) secretariat under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED).
Thus, MUPSF is a cross sectored forum that brings together the Public, Private Sectors and Academia at Makerere to address issues of mutual concern. Being the engine of growth for Uganda’s economy, the Private Sector is the largest employer of graduates and a potential client of scientific and technological innovations from Academia. The Forum’s agenda is driven by the need for employment focused student training, problem-solving oriented and demand-driven research as well as policy research and analysis. MUPSF also focuses on topical issues affecting Private Sector growth and development, which call for urgent interventions, such as guidance on possible alternatives to current energy crisis in Uganda; information dissemination to agricultural producers and food processors on value addition strategies.
Therefore incubation of the Makerere Africa Institute of Sustainability (MAIoS) has been consistent with the mission of MUPSF.
MUPSF has its Secretariat at Makerere University and is headed by an Executive Director. Its policies are generated by the Joint Advisory Council (JAC) made up of key stakeholders. Currently the Working Committee acts as the JAC and is chaired by the Vice Chancellor.
Makerere Africa Institute of Sustainability (MAIoS)
The genesis of MAIoS goes back to the pre-CHOGM 07 Uganda Investors Round Table held in London, UK, in June 2007. The concept was reinforced by partnerships formed during the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) November 2007 in Kampala. It was reviewed at a planning workshop held in London, UK in May 2008 that was attended by MUPSF partners from Institutes of Sustainable Cities from Thames Gateway, UK, and Dongtan, China.
MAIoS Goal
MAIoS aims to equip Africa, beginning with Uganda, towards quality living in harmony with the environment for the sake of One Planet Earth.
MAIoS Mission
MAIoS will be a national hub and regional academy for Sustainability, Science & Technology innovations integrating culture and development. This is premised on a new approach to a holistic development that recognizes interdependence of ‘One Planet Living’. Through research, innovations, teaching and practical problem solving, MAIoS will promote quality of life for Africa’s developing communities, beginning with Uganda and East Africa.
MAIoS will therefore support leadership training for government and business executives, offer accredited and non-accredited graduate and postgraduate training, and promote science and technology development, associated with discovering a new approach to urban development in Africa which enables ‘one Planet living’ to underpin high quality of life in developing communities.
MAIoS will utilize Makerere competences of all faculties, institutes and programmes premised on a multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary framework.
MAIoS Set-up
MAIoS central and main campus will be established in the Central Region. However, it will have four (4) satellite campuses strategically located in Northern, Eastern, South-western and Western Uganda. This way, MAIoS will integrate active participation and support of regional University/tertiary institutions, local governments and communities all over the country and its neighbourhood.
Programme Design
MAIoS programmes will be delivered in a non-traditional educational setting with experiential and holistic learning methods. These will combine education, research, innovations and technology transfer in a systematic approach to economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa with particular focus on environment, urban and rural development, industrialization, business & leadership development, and promotion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). MAIoS programmes will integrate both streams of strategic framework for sustainable development and organisational learning and leadership necessary for sustainability decision-making.
Programme brief
A MAIoS programme is tailored for early and mid career professionals from any professional background and nation.
- The Institute’s languages of instruction and learning will be African languages, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Kiswahili and;
- Preference shall be given to sustainability focused programmes in environment, natural science, engineering, business management, policy studies, social sciences, agriculture, public health, and economics among others;
- Training cycles may range from one week training to a three-year maturity leading to award of certificates, diplomas, Masters and PhDs;
- Off campus training through workshops, seminars, conferences and in-company boardroom lectures will be encouraged;
- Faculty Exchange Programme (FEP) within and outside the partnership to promote information sharing, knowledge transfer and experience sharing will be at the fore front of MAIoS;
- North-to-South and South-to-South student educational exchange and sustainability will be part of the programme.
Proposed linkages:
Regionally, MAIoS will link with other Universities and colleges in East and Central Africa. Internationally, MAIoS will link with institutes of sustainable cities in Thames Gateway, UK, and Dongtan China.
Initial Cost implications
MAIoS requires a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) estimated to cost US$ 2.5 million (two million five hundred thousand dollors), in order to develop the institute’s master plan, academic plan and business plan to forecast needed capital expenditure, operational expenditure and inflows for its sustainablity.
Investment Partnerships
We welcome interested investors in this mission and programme of driving Africa into an Ecological Age. Get details from our contact address below
Recommendation
To improve and promote sustainable development in Africa, MAIoS is highly recommended for funding. There is need to set up training programmes that help achieve sustainable livelihoods and transition to sustainable society. A flexible and adaptable work force equipped to meet growing environment and development problems is key in Africa.
Potential investors are encouraged to join hands with us in this endeavour.
Conclusion
When the central environmental question shall be posed to our generation: What did you do to mitigate climate change, the global food crisis and threats of diminishing fossil fuels, etc.? We hope to answer: Through MAIoS we have so equipped and empowered such leaders from among our graduates that they have gone on to save the One Planet Earth!
For further information
Professor Livingstone S. Luboobi,
Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
Email vc@admin.mak.ac.ug
Mr. Nuha Mwesigwa
Executive Director, MUPSF
Tel. 256 782 610260, 256 414 374119
Coming shortly: A forthcoming Picture Gallery expects to show the Vice Chancellor addressing several meetings
