Abstract
This book focuses on the importance of education, especially the role of higher education and research as a cornerstone for community development. Based on an ongoing and long-term collaboration in Building Stronger Universities in Northern Uganda between Gulu University and Danish university partners supported by the Danish Aid organization, DANIDA, this book provides insights into aspects of transforming education as a means for community development in northern Uganda.
Uganda has a proud history of building education and higher education after the colonial era ended. Northern Uganda is sharing the vision of strengthening education, however due to the unrest and the human consequences of the armed conflicts (1980s until 2007) and the damage done to the infrastructure and human infrastructures that provide education, combined with the long-term harm to people’s assets, livelihoods, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, the region still encounters distinctive challenges. Further, a huge influx of more than 1,400,000 refugees from neighboring countries, settling primarily in Northern and Western Uganda, has rendered communities in these regions particularly vulnerable. However, despite these challenges, higher education in East Africa has been presented from a high level of optimism and is viewed as the driver of regional and national development.
Departing from the overall goal of transforming education, the authors of the edited volume apply diverse perspectives on the overall theme through the following structure:
- An introductory chapter providing a context and overview of orientations in transforming education (the why’s and how’s)
- A historical background to transforming education including perspectives on a colonial past
- A section on institutional practices, access to education and quality of education
- A section on innovation in teaching and learning, focusing on IT; participatory practices and employability
- A closing chapter on lessons learnt and way forward.
Uganda has a proud history of building education and higher education after the colonial era ended. Northern Uganda is sharing the vision of strengthening education, however due to the unrest and the human consequences of the armed conflicts (1980s until 2007) and the damage done to the infrastructure and human infrastructures that provide education, combined with the long-term harm to people’s assets, livelihoods, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, the region still encounters distinctive challenges. Further, a huge influx of more than 1,400,000 refugees from neighboring countries, settling primarily in Northern and Western Uganda, has rendered communities in these regions particularly vulnerable. However, despite these challenges, higher education in East Africa has been presented from a high level of optimism and is viewed as the driver of regional and national development.
Departing from the overall goal of transforming education, the authors of the edited volume apply diverse perspectives on the overall theme through the following structure:
- An introductory chapter providing a context and overview of orientations in transforming education (the why’s and how’s)
- A historical background to transforming education including perspectives on a colonial past
- A section on institutional practices, access to education and quality of education
- A section on innovation in teaching and learning, focusing on IT; participatory practices and employability
- A closing chapter on lessons learnt and way forward.
| Original language | English |
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| Publisher | Brill |
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| Number of pages | 360 |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
| Series | African Higher Education |
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