Makerere, Chinese University sign landmark tech transfer deal

KAMPALA —Makerere University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) of China to strengthen research and training in atmospheric science and meteorology.

The agreement, signed at Makerere University’s School of Forestry, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences, paves the way for collaboration in teaching and learning, research and publication, technology transfer, and resource mobilization.

The partnership seeks to leverage the strengths, experience, technologies, methodologies, and resources of both institutions to achieve shared and complementary goals. Key areas of cooperation include resource mobilization, research and publication, technology transfer, staff and student exchanges, networking, and joint academic activities.

A significant aspect of the collaboration is the proposed establishment of an African climate school, which will strengthen research and training in atmospheric science and meteorology. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on Uganda’s rain-fed agriculture and climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

“The field of atmospheric science/ meteorology, the main focus of this cooperation, is very important especially for our country Uganda which depends mainly on rain-fed agriculture and also in this era of climate change where strengthening this discipline will be important for successful adaptation and mitigation of climate change,” said Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, in a statement presented by Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi, Representative of the Vice Chancellor. “The partnership will foster Makerere’s aspiration of becoming a research-led institution.”

The MoU also outlines a Reverse 2+2 program, a joint education program designed by both parties. Under this program, students will spend the first two years studying at a foreign institution, completing prescribed courses and meeting admission requirements of NUIST. The next two years will be spent studying full-time at NUIST, leading to a graduation diploma from NUIST and a bachelor’s degree from both institutions.

Commenting on the MoU, the Vice President of NUIST, Prof. Dr. Yueyue Yu, said, “We are committed to supporting this program and hope it will serve as a role model in the educational cooperation between Uganda and China.”

The partnership between Makerere University and NUIST is expected to have a significant impact on research and training in atmospheric science and meteorology, contributing to Uganda’s efforts to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

About NUIST

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), founded in 1960 and renamed from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology in 2004, was designated as one of the national key institutions of higher education in 1978. NUIST is co-constructed by the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), and the Ministry of Education. In 2017, NUIST was on the list of China’s “Double First-class” construction universities and disciplines as well as Jiangsu high-level universities. Currently, NUIST has about 35,800 full-time students, including 28,300 undergraduate students, 6,200 postgraduate students, and 1,300 international students. There are more than 2,000 full-time faculty members, with more than 120 high-end scholars.