millenium science initiative project at kyambogo university

MILLENIUM SCIENCE INITIATIVE PROJECT AT KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY
(i) Project Title:
“Upgrading the training and teaching of Mathematics and Science by incorporating ICT through
Open Distance and eLearning in Uganda”
(ii) Description of the Project.
Officially the project started off on 01/02/2009 and it will end on 31/01/2013.
GRANT NUMBER: MSI/WB2/2/24/08
IMPLEMENTING INSTITUTION: KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY, (KYU)
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam
Research Team: Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam; Dr. Jude Lubega; Dr. Juma Kasozi; Dr. Twesigye Charles; Dr.
Kadodooba Michael; and Mr. Okumu Charles Raymond
Incorporated Team : Ms. Sarah Kisa (Mathematics); Mr. Bernard Mugeni (Computer Science); Mr.
Richard Oriada (Physics); Dr. Pascal Soita (Sports Science) Mr. Apollo Namansa(ICT technician);
Lak Angella (ICT technician); Ms. Catherine Lwabaami (Account assistant); Mr. David Isooke
(Account Assistant)
History of the Millenium Science Initiative (MSI)
The Millennium Science Initiative came into being over the course of several years, building on
the rich history of previous attempts to build S&T capacity in the developing world. These
attempts have included programs of the The Academy of Science for the Developing World,
UNESCO, ICSU, the European Union, private foundations, Scandinavian aid organizations, and
The World Bank.
These approaches came together in a major convocation in Santiago, Chile, in 1998, supported by the
Government of Chile and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, where the basis for the Millennium
Science Initiative was formulated by an international panel of leading scientists, government officials,
representatives of the private sector, and World Bank officials. The first concrete result was the formal
implementation of an MSI in Chile.
The Science Initiative Group (SIG) was established in 1999 to ensure adequate representation of the
international scientific community in the MSI, to provide scientific guidance, and to coordinate the
efforts of the many groups whose participation is essential for successful program implementation
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The MSI in Uganda, which began in 2006, is a central component of the Government's strategy
to strengthen the country's scientific and technological capacity. The five-year, program, cofinanced
by the Government of Uganda and the World Bank, is the result of several years'
planning by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), Uganda's
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MFPED), and the World Bank. The
initiative had its origins in a series of meetings convened by Science Initiative Group(SIG)
beginning in 2001, and SIG continues to be involved through representation on the Uganda MSI
Technical Committee.
The key project development objective is to improve the quality and relevance of the teaching
and research environment in higher education institutions through encouraging both innovation
and accountability within universities and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity
of the higher education sector.
Countries that have implemented MSI projects include:
Chile, Agentina, Mexico, Brazil & Uganda
Project background
Through competitive proposals presented to UNCST, by a team of six researchers, Kyambogo
University, was awarded to undertake a research project titled, “Upgrading the Training of
Mathematics and Science Teachers by Incorporation of ICTs Through Open Distance and eLearning in
Uganda”. The project whose reference number is MSI/WB2/2/24/08, has been on for two and half years
since its inception in February 2009.
Key among other activities, the Millenium Science Initiative (MSI) supports S&T outreach, institutional
strengthening, monitoring , evaluation and policy studies as follows:
(a) S&T Outreach: The outreach program consists of activities designed to enhance public
understanding and appreciation of science and technology and its contribution to national
development:
(b) Institutional strengthening: The project will strengthen the capacity of UNCST and UIRI, as
institutions involved in S&T policy management, research and development respectively.
(c) Monitoring, evaluation and policy studies: Monitoring and evaluation of both the project’s
progress towards its development objective and overall performance of the S&T sector will be
regularly undertaken and reported in the State of Science and Technology Report.
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GENERAL EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOMES
The Project is expected to have an impact on the S&T sector and its performance. The expected
outcomes of the project will be measured against the following Project Development Indicators: (i)
Number or size and productivity of leading research groups; (ii) Percentage of pipeline science,
technology, and engineering undergraduates and postgraduates; (iii) Employment of science,
engineering and technology talent by firms active in technology development or evaluation; (iv) Public
impressions of science and technology careers.
Specific Objectives of the Project.
The specific objectives remain focused and these are to;
(1) Improve the quality of training and competence of mathematics and science secondary
School teachers;
(2) Increase the number of Mathematics and Science teachers by expanding access to training
through ODeL initiative;
(3) Equip teachers with ICT skills for use in teaching/learning mathematics and science subjects;
(4) Demonstrate competences in the use of ICT as a teaching resource, in technology-supported
learning environments;
(5) Integrate ICT in teaching/learning within the secondary schools;
(6) Establish six (6) regional coordinating centres.
The Project is funded by the Government of Uganda and the World Bank through the Uganda National
Council for Science and Technology (UNCST).
Research Progress
� Improving the quality of training and competences of mathematics and science secondary
school teachers and Increasing the number of Mathematics and Science teachers by expanding
access to training through Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) initiative is on course and are
being achieved.
� Three admissions of students onto the Bachelor of Education (BEd) Degree has been done. This
is in addition to students admitted on full time programme.
� For retention purposes elaborate guidance and counseling services have been offered to
students offering mathematics and science courses. Every face to face we have invited DVC (AA)
to talk with the students as a way of encouraging them to stay on course.
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Renovation of the labs.
Workshops
Through the Project, the following labs have been renovated
� 2 labs of Biology,
� 1 Chemistry lab.
The physics lab is still being renovated.
Two members of the Team, Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam, and Ms. Sarah Kisa attended a one- week
training workshop on “Business & Entrepreneurship Skills” at Silver Spring from 6 th -10 th June 2011.
The training workshop was sponsored by UNCST and was facilitated by Enterprise Uganda. The
theme of the workshop was “ Creating a Business-like mindset in Researchers and Innovators”
Outreach
In attempting to demystify the notion that mathematics and science subjects are hard to learn.
� The Project has organized an a one-day Outreach at Mbale SS in Mabale, which was
attended by 140 school teachers. The teachers were drawn from the Secondary schools as
shown in the Table 1:
� The workshop was facilitated by Senior Researchers of the Project, and the consultant was
Dr. Jessica Aguti of Makerere University.
� Another Outreach for 150 participants will take place at Nyakasura School in Fort Portal on
20 th August 2011. It will be facilitated by the Senior Researchers and the Consultant will be
Prof. E.J.K Banda of Physics Department, Makerere University.
� In addition to these Outreach, the Project Team has participated in two Science week
organized by UNCST. One at Munyonyo (2009) and another one in Gulu (2010).
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Table 1: PARTICIPANTS IN MSI WORKSHOP HELD IN MBALE
SNO NAME SCHOOL DISTRICT
TEACHERS
1 SITATI LAWRENCE BUDUDA SS BUDUDA
2 KUTOSI MOSES BUDUDA SS BUDUDA
2 MAKULO STEPHEN BUDUDA SS BUDUDA
4 NANONGO MOSES BUDUDA SS BUDUDA
5 WABUTAYA BEN BUDUDA SS BUDUDA
6 MABAKU JOSEPH BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
7 MUKHOKEZI EMMA BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
8 NALUME ANDREW BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
9 NAMUKOWA GODFREY BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
10 OPOLOT CHARLES BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
11 TSEMANYI VICENT BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
12 WAMANYANYA R BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA
13 MAJIMBO CHESOLI STEPHEN BUSHIKA SS BUDUDA
14 NAMALE JOHN GATE OF HOPE BUDUDA
15 AYEKO IRENE BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA
16 EMURON FRANCIS BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA
17 OKELLO DAVID BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA
18 ORINYO BERNARD BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA
19 OTM MOSES BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA
20 BWIRE D TANGA BUSIA SS BUSIA
21 WAFULA OBADIAH WERE BUSIA SS BUSIA
22 BWIRE AZALIA DABANI GIRLS BUSIA
23 BWIRE JERALD DABANI GIRLS BUSIA
24 CHEROP DOROTHY BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA
25 MWALYE FRANCIS BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA
26 WAFULA DANIEL BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA
27 WAKUBA ERIAH BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA
28 WANDEKA DANIEL BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA
29 AMURIAT E J P GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA
30 EULET JOSEPH GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA
31 KIBET LUKU GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA
32 TORITO MICHAEL GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA
33 YONA BEN GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA
34 CHEPKURUI ISAAC KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA
35 HYEBA AYEBA ALFRED KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA
36 MUSAMUSA HENRY KAPCHORWA SS
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KAPCHORWA

37 SATYA ABUDULUAZIZ KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA
38 SOKUTON CHEBIRWA WILFRED KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA
39 MASHETA TEMUSAWO KASEREM KAPCHORWA
40 CHEBET FRED MBALE SS KAPCHORWA
41 CHEMONGES NELSON SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA
42 GIMADU AARON SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA
43 KAMWASIR C OLIVIA SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA
44 MALINGA MARTIN SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA
45 MUTAI JOB SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA
46 ETIGU PAULO SIPI SS KAPCHORWA
47 KITIKIY ANDREW SIPI SS KAPCHORWA
48 MUSAU A TUNDE SIPI SS KAPCHORWA
49 NAMBOZO JUSTINE SIPI SS KAPCHORWA
50 OKIROR JAMES SOROTI SS SOROTI
51 MUGALU PETER SOROTI SS SOROTI
52 ONGODIA MICHAEL SOROTI SS SOROTI
53 TINO GRACE SOROTI SS SOROTI
54 CHEPTOYEK ANDREW SOROTI SS SOROTI
55 OMODING JAMES NGORA HIGH SOROTI
56 AGUTI NORAH NGORA HIGH SOROTI
57 OKELLO DENIS NGORA HIGH SOROTI
58 ANGURIA JONATHAN NGORA HIGH SOROTI
59 OKIROR PETER NGORA HIGH SOROTI
60 KUTOSI W DISON BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA
61 MAINA JAMES BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA
62 MASETTE PATRICK BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA
63 MAZUWE WILLIAM BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA
64 WATSUTE MICHAEL BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA
65 KIBALATSI LAWRENCE BUTIRU MODEL MANAFWA
66 MASAI FRANCIS WABWALA SS MANAFWA
67 NAMONYO PATRICK WABWALA SS MANAFWA
68 LLOBOJOK MARK PETER BUSIU SS MBALE
69 NAMBUYA ROSE BUSIU SS MBALE
70 WATSALA MESUSERA BUSIU SS MBALE
71 LUNYOLO ANNET MBALE HIGH MBALE
72 MUDDE JAMES MBALE HIGH MBALE
73 ORUTE ANDREW MBALE HIGH MBALE
74 WANAMBWA MUSA MBALE HIGH MBALE
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75 WOGIBI FRED MBALE HIGH MBALE
76 WOMULUGWA E SONGO MBALE HIGH MBALE
77 OKIDI AGNES GRACE MBALE MUN COMM MBALE
78 ADER MASCOVIA MBALE SS MBALE
79 ARIIKO KIFUMBI JP MBALE SS MBALE
80 BITSI BETEIN FRANCIS MBALE SS MBALE
81 DOMBO SILVER MBALE SS MBALE
82 ESUKU DAVID MBALE SS MBALE
83 MAKHONJE WILLIAM MBALE SS MBALE
84 MASIFA ABUBAKARI MBALE SS MBALE
85 MAUMBE MILTON MBALE SS MBALE
86 MUKWANA EDWARD MBALE SS MBALE
87 MULWAWITA ERIC MBALE SS MBALE
88 MUSAMALI ROBEERT MBALE SS MBALE
89 MUTUNGA MICHAEL MBALE SS MBALE
90 MWAMBU LOYCE MBALE SS MBALE
91 NAWANGA MARIAM MBALE SS MBALE
92 NAZAMI FRED MBALE SS MBALE
93 OGWANG GEORGE MBALE SS MBALE
94 OMONGIN DENISH MBALE SS MBALE
95 WADERU JOHN BAPTIST MBALE SS MBALE
96 WAKHATA ROBERT MBALE SS MBALE
97 WAMBOGA DISONI MBALE SS MBALE
98 WAMIMBI AMOS MBALE SS MBALE
99 WANANDA JAMES MBALE SS MBALE
100 WANDOGA AMIS MBALE SS MBALE
101 WANDUKWA JOYSE NASA MBALE SS MBALE
102 WANKOKO STEPHEN MBALE SS MBALE
103 WEPUKHULU JAMES MBALE SS MBALE
104 WOSUKIR S MBALE SS MBALE
105 BUA LEO MBALE SS MBALE
106 ANGATU CHARLES NABUMALI HIGH MBALE
107 EKIMING YAHAYA NABUMALI HIGH MBALE
108 KHISA FAUSTIN NABUMALI HIGH MBALE
109 OUMA HUMPHREY NABUMALI HIGH MBALE
110 WALUSANSA DAMIEN NABUMALI HIGH MBALE
111 KITUTU NABOYA NKOMA SS MBALE
112 MAFABI EZEKIEL NKOMA SS MBALE
113 MUZAKI ROSE NKOMA SS MBALE
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114 NANGAI JAMES NKOMA SS MBALE
115 OPIO WALTER NKOMA SS MBALE
116 APUSAN RICHARD NKOMA SS MBALE
117 EDOKU SAMUEL NGORA GIRLS NGORA
118 OYOKA MATHIAS NGORA GIRLS NGORA
119 KIDANDI AYUBU SIRONKO HIGH SIRONKO
120 APENDU JOSEPH TESO COLLEGE SOROTI
121 EUNA MOSES TESO COLLEGE SOROTI
122 ODENG BOSCO TESO COLLEGE SOROTI
123 OJANGOLE GEORGE TESO COLLEGE SOROTI
124 OMUZE O TESO COLLEGE SOROTI
CORDINATION
125 OBOT SARAH MBALE SS MBALE
126 WOLAYO JULIET MBALE SS MBALE
127 KOMAKECH GEOFFFREY MBALE SS MBALE
HEAD TEACHER
128 SAM KULOBA MBALE SS
129 OKUMU FRANCIS MBALE SS
130 WAMBEDE HUSSEIN MBALE HIGH
131 WAKHOLI CATHERINE BUSIU SS
132 CHELIMO DAVID SIPI SS
133 IKILENG JOHN BUKEDI COLLEGE
134 ACIDRI ASEA SEBEI COLLEGE
135 NAMONO JANE BUBULO GIRLS
136 MATANDA ISAAC BUDUNDA SS
137 CHELIBE DAVID GAMATUI GIRLS
138 OWOR ADRIAN BUKEDA SS
139 SEMUJOGI KATAMBA NKOMA SS
140 ONYAIT CHARLES TESO COLLEGE
MALINGA WILLY KAPCHORWA SS
Training of lecturers
The training of lecturers in the use of Moodle Learning Management System is ongoing. So far the
training is going on for the project Team, and later on we plan to roll it out to all the lecturers at
Kyambogo University, before exposing the students in how to access reading materials on the platform.
Seven modules have been written and are ready. Four of these have been uploaded for use by students
and lecturers. The website is; www.kyu.ac.ug/odel/course. These include among others: Solid state
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physics by Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam, Elecricity and magnetism I, by Dr Obwoya Kinyera Sam; Elements of
Mathematics by Dr. Juma Kasozi.
All the courses to be run on the ODeL mode have draft modules produced. These are all on CDs. The CDs
have been given out to students and lecturers, and they are using them.
Publication
The Team has published a paper titled, “A methodological Information and communication Technologies
(ICTs) Approach for demystifying the norm that teaching of Mathematics and Sciences for Lower
secondary education is hard”. This paper will be presented at an International Conference on Computing
and research (ICCIR’11), which will take place between 7 th and 9 th August 2011 in Kampala.
Upcountry Centres
The Project set up five upcountry Centres where some of its activities were expected to be run
and managed. These Centres include:
Muni NTC; Gulu PTC; Mukuzu PTC; Bushenyi PTC; and Canon Apollo PTC;
However, these Centres were have not fully utilized yet because the students enrolled on the
ODeL find them too far away from their workplaces.
Financial Management
� All the equipment for the Project are expected to be procured by UNCST.
� KYU has been responsible for all the other procurements, including paying out salary
supplement as per the approved budget.
� Payments of contractors who renovated the labs were done through KYu
Activities Completed
(a)-Curriculum review:
� All the curriculum for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics have been reviewed and
adopted by the University.
� Sports Science and Computer courses are expected to be included in next academic year
2011/2012.
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Training Modules Writers:
� Forty members of the teaching staff were trained in how to write online modules. The
training took place at Sky Hotel, Kampala. The facilitator was Dr. Joseph Oonyu from
Makerere University.
� Drafts modules have been written for virtually all courses by lecturers. These are the
one they have been giving to students to use both during face to face and at home.
These are on CDs which we have given out to students.
Moodle Learning Management System
A Consultant was contracted by Procurement Department of Kyambogo University to configure
the Moodle Learning Management System onto the www.kyu.ac.ug website. The Moodle is
already operational, but with few modules.
� Introducing teacher training by online education or Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) at
Degree level has been the major on-going. A number of short course have been organised for
the lecturers. These trainings typically it involve the use of internet to access learning materials,
to interact with the content, instructor, and other learners; and to obtain support during the
learning process. It has not been very easy yet for us to introduce the students effectively. This
is partly because the duration of face to face have been short.
Equipment received by 16/08/2011
Through the MSI, we have received so far the following equipment:
Computer Tables 10, Computer Chairs, HP Proliant ML 370 Server; 2 projectors; 25 HP pro 3120 MT
Desktop; 25 HP 19” LCD Monitor; 26 Tripplite 750VA UPS; 1 Laserjet P3015d Printer;1HP ProBook 6540b
Laptop (without carry case); 1 HP Scanjet G2710 Photo scanner; 1 HP Laserjet M5035X MFP printer; 1
Canon Camera, Digital SD940 IS; 1 CamCoder, DCR-SX63; 2 Video Camera DCR-SR67; 1 Bench Turbidity
meter with RS232 computer interface; 1 Dissoved oxygen/Biological, Oxygen kit; 1 Dissolved oxygen
meter analysis; 1 Hydro Lab; 1 Rotary Evaporator; 1 Waterproof conductivity/TDS/Salinity meter; 1
Waterproof Hand held multiparameter meter with accessories; and 8. Waterproof handheld
multiparameter with accessories Fak F 340 Shaking Platform. Sealed radioactive source Cobalt.
The majority of the equipment is NOT yet delivered.
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