Cavendish University Uganda, a leading private university in Uganda known for deploying global best practices in teaching and learning, including remote learning technology, held its 9th graduation ceremony on Friday 28th May 2020 at Speke Resort & Conference Centre Munyonyo.
The event which was the first virtual graduation to be held by the university, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was presided over by the University Chancellor and former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E Benjamin William Mkapa who explained that the event was conducted virtually because, “we wanted to balance the need for promoting students’ employability with the need to prevent the spread of the Novel Corona Virus.”
In line with the theme of the graduation event: Research and Innovation as Tools to achieve Growth and Development, H.E Mkapa urged students to build on the exposure to the vast demography of people from different countries, cultures, ethnicities, languages and learning environments and to create powerful and helpful networks that will open doors of opportunities for them in different geographical and political settings. “Make use of the generic skills in Information Technology and digital literacy to maintain and reinforce your contacts, and to exchange constructive information among yourselves,” he added.
Among the virtual guests were H.E. Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, Governor of Kakamega County and Chairman Council of Governors of the Republic of Kenya who addressed the graduands via video-conference and pledged the collaboration of all Counties of Kenya whose Governors he represented. He thanked the university for continuing to engage students and staff online post Covid-19.
The Chief Guest, the Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda congratulated Cavendish University Uganda for setting itself apart as a university that is preparing students for the future through its educational online platform and for its ability to conduct a successful virtual graduation. Speaker Kadaga thanked the university for supporting the Ugandan economy by attracting students from several African countries and implored graduands to, “celebrate this achievement in a manner that is consistent with scientific requirements of Covid-19,” adding that they should always seek to add value by finding solutions to the challenges faced in the communities, countries and institutions where they will be employed.
The Vice Chancellor of Cavendish University Uganda, Prof John Francis Mugisha remarked that the university decided to migrate all contact students to its learning platform that was already serving the Distance Learning students, adding that, the university seamlessly switched to online study following prescribed regulatory guidelines and maintained all operational and administrative activities including holding virtual meetings in line with the university academic and operations calendar. “We have not missed any major academic or operational activity. We will not miss the graduation”, he added.
A total of Eight hundred nine (809) students who fulfilled the requirements were awarded Bachelors and Masters Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates “scientifically and virtually” in an event that started with a key note speech from the former Commissioner General of Uganda Revenue Authority, Ms Doris Akol who informed the graduands that they each had an assignment to fulfil, a vision, which they need to define for themselves, smart goals to achieve that vision, and to not be afraid of challenges. “Your setback is your setup for your comeback”, she added notably.
The Chairman of the University Council, Prof Olubayi Olubayi, concluded to students that, “if your education is to mean anything, you must use online resources to continually educate yourself on how best to become a researcher and an innovator”. Prof Olubayi implored students to make money and get rich not from corruption, but from deploying research and innovation in solving their problems.
The event which was also attended by Mr. Ibrahim Kagolola, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner Makindye Division saw a number of students picking up various special achievement awards led by Akua Stuart Timothy who graduated with a Bachelor of Public Health and emerged as the overall best performing student with a CGPA score of 4.95.