Prof. Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya, the Vice Chancellor has urged Professors to provide academic leadership, engage in research and make an impact. He stressed that Professors are at the top of their academic ladder and they occupy a privileged position in the university adding that every university needs professors for visibility. The Vice Chancellor said this today, June 30, 2022 while meeting Professors and Associate Professors during a mentorship session held in the Council Room at Kyambogo University.
He urged the Professors to get young people to mentor, nurture and shape into useful professionals. He pressed them to develop PhD and Masters Programs, which are demanded in the labor market, not the ones offered everywhere. By developing these programs, he added “you are developing capacity for other people and creating opportunities for yourselves to publish, supervise and mentor. He charged them to provide academic leadership in teaching and learning and focus more on student related matters, from admission to graduation, adding that there shouldn’t be marks delaying or missing.
In research, he urged them to get funding from the University Competitive Research Grant. He revealed that funding has been increased to 2.5bn for research adding that this is an opportunity to research. He said: Encourage your people to write more applications because we’re going to make this competitive research friendly to enable researchers do more.
He emphasized that academia is public engagement- it can’t be solo; challenging them to get someone to work with in other countries and universities underscoring that that network is beneficial. He encouraged them to put their profiles on the website to be available to people who need partners. He revealed that philanthropists require that universities form consortia, “if they can’t find you on the website, how will they find you?” wondered the Vice Chancellor.
He reminded them that they’ve come a long way to be here and therefore need to clearly define where they want to go before signing out. He commended them to improve their skill sets. “There are skills you still need to learn and it’s not late to improve them; hone your presentation skills and present a good image of the university at conferences and wherever you go.” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Katunguka charged the professors to “maintain a sense of integrity, which seems to be eluding some of our members” he urged, adding “please don’t cut corners especially at your age because cutting corners can damage your reputation permanently. He further said success will need patience because nothing comes easy. You must be persistent with focus, be positive, hoping that things will get better. Many of us fail because we fear to fail, some people fail even before they try, while others fail to handle success when it comes. Spend time with only quality people who will help you to grow. Distance yourselves from toxic people who poison other people. You don’t need many people but few quality ones. These toxic people are everywhere; you talk to them and come out worse than before. He challenged them to prepare for 3Cs- accelerated Change, overwhelming Complexity and tremendous Competition. Be prepared even at your age to compete because as long as you live and still hope to live, you will compete.
He charged them to avoid getting excited when facing criticisms but to maintain a cool amidst challenges. He stressed that as they get people to do their work, because people don’t want to work, they will experience occupational hazards because as they enforce certain rules and regulations, they won’t get so much loved.
He concluded advising them to take risks where necessary and work towards financial independence through investments and increasing cash flows emphasizing that the salary we earn is not enough. He urged them to try and live a healthy lifestyle, to exercise, to eat well and not digging their graves with their teeth.