KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawagwe on Friday launched Uganda’s first smart classroom, the first of its kind among universities and other learning institutions in Uganda.
The smart classroom was installed by the Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) in collaboration with the UNESCO, CreatiView Education Technology and Southern University of Science and Technology.
The project launch according to the institution is in line with Makerere’s strategy as the University celebrates 100 years anniversary.
Prof Nawangwe while launching the project said that any country that does not embrace digital era is in serious problems.
“The future lies to those who embrace technology. Its is time for us to wake up if we (Africa) is not to be left behind again,” he said adding, “Online is the future and as Makerer we have embraced the future and we shall not be left behind again. We need more so that we can show the rest of the country that we need these innovations.”
“We are going to devise means and ensure that this initiative is extended to other colleges of the University and the rest of the institutions countrywide,” he added.
Speaking at the launch, Prof Tony Oyana the Principal of CoCIS said that the facility is accommodating 50 computers will be used for recording, broadcasting, and automation in the classroom including monitoring the examination, quizzes, and any other form of assessment.
“As part of the facility, the college has also received a technological Robot to assist lecturers in teaching and learning by performing functions such as recording classroom attendance, reading, language processing, speech recognition, photo taking and checking temperature among other things,” he said
“The establishment of the smart classroom system at Makerere University has been funded by the Chinese taxpayer and education technology companies (the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (ICHEI) and China’s International Institute of Online Education) under the auspices of UNESCO,” he added.
In his virtue speech, Lyu Feng, the Assistant Director and Chief of IIOE Management Centre, UNESCO-ICHEI Shenzen China pledged more support to the University and the country at large.
“We have embarked on capacity building for quality teaching and learning and have so far launched the classes to 10 countries in Africa and Asia with priority for higher education institutions,” he said adding,
SCR, according to Hassan Adeed Shehzad the Programme Specialist amd lead of SCR project at UNESCo-ICHEI has so far been installed in different countries including; Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda among other countries.
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