The staff of CEES on May 6, 2022 witnessed a change of guards as the outgoing Deputy Principal, Prof. Paul Muyinda Birevu handed over office to Prof. Ronald Bisaso.
The ceremony also saw Dr. Godfrey Mayende handover the Directorship of the Institute of Distance and E-learning (IoDEL) to Prof. Muyinda.
While welcoming them, the Principal Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga called for team work and cohesion within the college. The Principal appreciated Prof. Birevu for his leadership especially in e-learning of the college and the university at large, saying Prof. Birevu had demonstrated transparent leadership. “As you take on a new office, I pray that this style of leadership will be carried on,” Prof. Mugagga emphasized.
Prof. Mugagga appreciated Prof. Bisaso for stepping in as Acting Principal at a time when Prof. Mugagga was unwell. He thanked God for his speedy recovery and looked forward to returning to work. He called on the new deputy principal to foster team work at the College.
While handing over office Prof. Birevu appreciated the former Principal, Prof. Musagazi Masaazi for supporting him and guiding him throughout his tenure. He also thanked university management for giving him an opportunity to serve the university and staff of CEES for working with him. Dr. Birevu has served the college as Deputy Principal for over 4 years.
Dr. Birevu highlighted some of his achievement which include; putting in place a robust tracking system of thesis and dissertations sent out to external and internal examiners, curriculum review and diversifying the mode of delivery on graduate programmes from face to face to blended. Under his leadership as Deputy Principal, the college saw an increase in grants from 2 in 2017 to 40 grants. “The college now has a research profile of 40 projects representing a percentage increase of 2000%,” Prof. Birevu said.
Prof. Bisaso on his part shared his vision and plans for the college, which included establishing a grants office and grants management committee to foster and increase in research grants at the college. In the area of graduate training, the new Deputy Principal hopes to lobby for funds facilitate graduate committees, trainings in graduate supervision and also increase the number of graduate enrollment.
Prof. Bisaso plans on establishing the CEES Writing Unit/Centre to support graduate students, ECAs language services and capacity improvement, start training of academic staff as per National Teacher Policy 2019 in transformative approaches and also create new departments e.g. Department of Early Childhood Development in SoE and follow up proposals for the EASHESD departments in the Kagoda Committee.
Dr. Mayende Handovers over
During the same ceremeony, Dr. Mayende, who was acting Director of IoDEL handed over office to Prof. Birevu. Dr. Mayende welcomed Prof. Birevu upon being appointed Director of the Institute and pledged to support him in executing his duties. He thanked Prof. Musagazi for giving him an opportunity to lead the institute. He also appreciated the IoDEL staff who worked tooth and nail to ensure the smooth transition to emergency ODEL. During the covid-19 lockdown, the university was required, by NCHE, to transition to emergency oDEL and carry out online exams, a thing the centre succeeded at. Among the achievements of the institute, Dr. Mayende shared the various staff promotions, growth in grants and grant administration.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Mayende congratulated his predecessor for steering the institute and for a job well-done and called on the staff of the department to support him during his term of office.
The two handovers were witnessed by the Ag. Human Resources Manager Julius Lebo and the Manager Audit, Ms Nalule Deborah.
