From 27th to 31st October 2025, members of faculty at Makerere University and Malmo University, will undertake joint programme activities aimed at strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education in Uganda and Sweden.
The interactive schedule involves holding strategic meetings and practical sessions in the field of early childhood care and education. The engagements will bring on board the academic leadership of Makerere University, discipline specific meetings with faculty members, focused group discussions with undergraduate students, and graduate students, hands-on training sessions, and participant observation lecture engagements.
The discussions will prioritize the development of the taught PhD in Early Childhood Care and Education, as well as, amplifying the case for a fully-fledged department of Early Childhood Care and Education at Makerere University.
Focusing on the students’ perspective, Masters and PhD students at the College of Education and External Studies will pitch their research work. In the same vein, undergraduate students pursuing the Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education degree programme (in the second year of study) will have specialized knowledge exchange and transfer sessions.
In the area of best practices and networking, faculty members from Makerere University and Malmo University will hold academic staff matching sessions aimed at joint teaching, supervision, research and writing joint publications.
At Makerere University, the mobility programme is anchored within the School of Education under the College of Education and External Studies (CEES). Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, Prof. Betty Ezati and Dr. Peter Ssenkusu, are credited for initiating the collaboration that led to the development of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education.
Welcoming the delegation from Malmo University to the introductory meeting held on 27th October 2025, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga pledged his utmost commitment to the advancement of the Early Childhood Care and Education sector in Uganda and beyond.
Prof. Mugagga articulated that the five-day activity schedule will further enrich and strongly impact the delivery of academic programmes in the Early Childhood Care and Education at the undergraduate, Masters, and PhD levels.
At Malmo University, the programme is implemented by the Early Childhood Development Department Unit under the Faculty of Education and Society. The Visiting delegation from Malmo University includes the following members of faculty: Theresa Lindgren-Senior Lecturer in Education, Catrin Stensson-University Lecturer with a Licentiate degree, Magdalena Sjöstrand Öhrfelt-Senior Lecturer in Education, and Dorota Lembrér-Senior Lecturer.
Highlights:
Dr. Godfrey Kabugo, the Director of Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER) stated that the activities being implemented are anchored within the Erasmus+ Makerere University and Malmo University mobility programme funded by the European Union.
Dr. Peter Ssenkusu, Lecturer in the Department of Foundation and Curriculum Studies, applauded the Malmo University team for coming up with innovative approaches that have impacted the teaching and learning in Early Childhood Care and Education.
Recalling the baby steps, and the journey thus far, Catrin Stensson-University Lecturer with a Licentiate degree at Malmo University, noted with pleasure, that the programme and partnership were growing, and being implemented to impact the education sector, the faculty and students.
Building on to Stensson’s submission, the Makerere University-Malmo University staff and student exchange programme is very rewarding both at the intellectual and professional levels.
Wrapping up:
The visiting delegation from Malmo University and the faculty members from Makerere University College of Education and External Studies, noted that the strategic meetings and engagements with key stakeholders, would scale the impact of Early Childhood Care and Education including curriculum development and review, pedagogy, and future mobility of staff and students.
On 28th October, the Makerere-Malmo University faculty will hold a meeting with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-Prof. Sarah Ssali, the International Office, and discipline specific engagements.
Participants:
The following members of staff at the College of Education and External Studies attended the meeting: Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga-Principal, Dr. Godfrey Kabugo-Director of Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER) and an expert in Early Childhood Care and Education, Prof. Betty Ezati-School of Education, Dr. Peter Ssenkusu-School of Education, Ms. Ritah Namisango-Principal Communication Officer, and Mr. Moses Kibirango-Web Administrator.
