Transforming Higher Education for Community Development

Participatory Reflection on a Decade of Mutual Capacity-Building in Northern Uganda
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-90-04-73157-8
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 21, 363 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

Reihe: African Higher Education: Developments and Perspectives

This volume explores educational transformation as a tool for community development in northern Uganda, with an emphasis on student-centred, hybrid and problem-based learning. It addresses key questions about existing education systems, the need for transformation, desired outcomes and foreseeable challenges. The introductory chapter contextualises the reforms within Uganda's colonial history, while subsequent chapters analyse institutional practices, curriculum design, quality of education and innovation in teaching and learning. The book argues for new participatory learning infrastructures, real-world problems and curricular entrepreneurship to enhance graduates' employability and position them as active contributors to community development. The book is the result of a long-term partnership between universities.

Contributors are: Rozalba Aciro, Agatha Alidri, Helen Amongin, Adebua Asaf, Judith Awacorach, Jerry Bagaya, Peter Kakubeire Baguma, Abola Bernard, Ann Bygholm, Helene Balslev Clausen, Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Betty Akullu Ezati, Cornelia Thea Seger Jakobsen, Iben Jensen, Annebeth Colic Landsvig, Inger Lassen, Zakaria Hanan Lassen, Stephen Odama, Denis Ofoyuru, Collins Okello, Charles Nelson Okumu, John Bismarck Okumu, David Ross Olanya, David Onen, Joseph Oonyu, George Openyjuru, George Orangi, Palle Rasmussen, Arne Remmen, Frida Skovgaard Sørensen, Geoffery Olok Tabo and Wycliffe Scot Wafula.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Weitere Mitwirkende

Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Lone

Geoffrey, Tabo O.

Okumu, Charles Nelson

Kattenhøj, Morten Kure

Lassen, Inger

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Pädagogik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

Acknowledgements

List of Figures and Tables

Abbreviations

Notes on Contributors

PART 1: Why Transform Education?

1 Towards Transforming Higher Education Inger Lassen, Geoffrey Olok Tabo, Charles Okumu and Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld

PART 2: Historical Background to Transformation of Education

2 Decolonising or Localising Higher Education in the Global South? Historical Perspective of Transforming Education under the South-North Collaboration in Gulu University Agatha Alidri

3 Okot p’Bitek’s Literary Inspirations for Decolonisation of Education Charles Okumu

4 Curricula Transformation in Gulu University: A Response towards Community Needs and Challenges Denis Thaddeus Ofoyuru and Collins Okello

5 Community Transformation by Higher Institutions of Learning: An Engendered Perspective in Northern Uganda Asaf Adebua, George Oriangi and Abola Bernard

PART 3: Institutional Practices and Access to Quality Education

6 Secondary School Inspection Practices in Western Uganda: Implications for Pedagogy Jerry Bagaya, Betty Akullu Ezati, Wycliffe Scot Wafula and Palle Rasmussen

7 Educational Leadership Styles and Quality of Primary Education in Gulu City, Northern Uganda Stephen Odama, Agatha Alidri, Charles Okumu and Iben Jensen

8 Exploring the Determinants of Entry Grades and Challenges: Faced by Students Admitted to Public Universities in Uganda through Direct Entry Schemes Rosalba Aciro, George Oriangi, George L. Openjuru, David Onen, Palle Rasmussen and Betty Akullu Ezati

9 Emotional Intelligence and Non-Academic Achievement Helen Christine Waiswa Amongin, Peter Kakubeire Baguma and Joseph Oonyu

10 Co-Curricular Activities and Students Discipline in Higher Institutions of Learning in Gulu City John Bismarck Okumu

PART 4: Innovation in Teaching and Learning: IT, Participatory Practices, and Employability

11 Advances toward Digital Learning: A Scoping Review of Research and Practices from East Africa Ann Bygholm, Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld and Geoffrey Olok Tabo

12 Introducing Problem-Based Learning in MA Programmes at Gulu University for Community Transformation: Reflections and Lessons Iben Jensen, Geoffrey Olok Tabo, Judith Awacorach, Hanan Lassen Zakaria, David Ross Olanya and Inger Lassen

13 Rethinking Transformative Learning in Higher Education: Contextualizing Pedagogical Tools to Create Employable Graduates at Gulu University, Northern Uganda Judith Awacorach and Helene Balslev Clausen

14 Circular Entrepreneurship in Northern Uganda Frida Skovgaard Sørensen, Cornelia Thea Seger Jakobsen, Annebeth Colic Landsvig, Judith Awacorach and Arne Remmen

15 Developing Infrastructures for Learning: Perspectives and Proposals in Design of New Practices Geoffrey Olok Tabo, Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld and Ann Bygholm

PART 5: Lessons Learned

16 Lessons Learned – Building Stronger Universities, Transforming and Transitions: Education as a Driver for Development Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Charles Okumu, Geoffrey Olok Tabo and Inger Lassen

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Ph.D., is a professor of ICT and Learning at Aalborg University, promoting Humanities as a driver for interdisciplinary research. Her publications include How to Design for the Materialisation of Networked Learning Spaces (Springer, 2023).

Geoffrey Olok Tabo, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Gulu University, researching infrastructures for learning, emerging technologies, PBL hybrid and health informatics. His recent work includes Designing Infrastructures for Learning: Technology and Human Praxis (Aalborg University, 2020).

Charles Nelson Okumu, Ph.D., is a professor of Literary and Cultural Studies at Gulu University, publishing on literature and education. He was Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities. His recent work includes The Life and Times of Okot p'Bitek (Imbizo, 2020).

Morten Kure Kattenhøj, is Project Coordinator at Aalborg University. He has an MA in English philology and Media Studies. He has previously worked as development worker in Bangladesh and Kenya but now works on larger research projects at the university.

Inger Lassen, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita at Department of Culture and Learning at Aalborg University, researching critical discourse studies. Her publications include Stability, Democracy, and Rights in Post-Conflict Areas (Globe, 2018).