As part of strengthening diplomatic ties between MUST and China, on 21st June 2024 the Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Uganda Minister Counselor Fan Xuecheng visited MUST and interacted with students and staff on issues regarding China’s journey to having sustainable peace and development.
Minister Counsellor Fan was with Ms. Wang Zizhao and Mr. Song Jonpeny from the Chinese Embassy in Uganda. He was welcomed by Dr. Wendo Mlahagwa Olema, the Dean Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies (FIS), Ms. Sheila Niinye Twinamatsiko the International Relations Officer together with other Deans, Directors and staff of MUST.
Led by their class president Mr. Agaba Albert and the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Mr. Robert Kanusu, the postgraduate students pursuing a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies organized the meeting with the Minister Counsellor Fan Xuecheng to deliberate about the Chinese model in sustainable peace building and development.
During the meeting, Mr. Kanusu Deputy RCC appreciated the Chinese Ambassador for visiting MUST. It emphasized the desire of their class to benchmark on peace building in China and attain collaborations with Chinese Universities with MUST. He informed members about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hainan province in China and Mbarara city which was signed in 2017 and creates opportunities for MUST.
Led by their class president Mr. Agaba Albert and the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Mr. Robert Kanusu, the postgraduate students pursuing a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies organized the meeting with the Minister Counsellor Fan Xuecheng to deliberate about the Chinese model in sustainable peace building and development.
During the meeting, Mr. Kanusu Deputy RCC appreciated the Chinese Ambassador for visiting MUST. It emphasized the desire of their class to benchmark on peace building in China and attain collaborations with Chinese Universities with MUST. He informed members about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hainan province in China and Mbarara city which was signed in 2017 and creates opportunities for MUST.
Dr. Wendo Olema the Dean of FIS gave a presentation about MUST highlighting the niche in community engagement engrained in all University programmes. She elaborated on FIS; the programs offered by the faculty, and explained the unique attributes of the faculty where it combines science to development. She further highlighted the student community-twining project and how it prepares students to understand community dynamics. She commented on MUST’s current collaborations with China and expressed the need for more partnerships. Currently MUST is implementing a project focused on enhancing the quality of technical education programmes funded by UNESCO – China Fund in Trust. MUST also has a partnership with the UNESCO – International Institute of Online Education.
Representing the Academic Registrar, Mr. Solomon Agum, explained the different programmes MUST offers and the present global student presence that enriches the University. He informed the Minister Counsellor that MUST is ready to partner with different Universities in China in student and staff exchanges, research, and community engagement.
Ass. Prof. Vincent Batwala who represented the University’s Top Management thanked the Ambassador for making this important visit to the University, he appreciated the class president and Deputy RCC for having a team spirit and dedication to their class and the University at large. He highlighted the high quality of teaching and research at MUST that currently has 96 projects at the MUST Grants Office with over 50 partner institutions. He welcomed the Ambassador to invite other institutions to partner with MUST, especially in science and technology.
“I am impressed to find professors here who are connecting science to development’’ the Deputy Ambassador said. He appreciated the MUST leadership and students’ desire to learn from China. He informed them about the various possibilities of growing these connections. He further explained that to achieve the level of development China is at, the country concentrated more on human development which led to the growth and advancement in the last 60 years after different wars that it was engaged in.
The faculty and students then had an interactive and informative discussion with the Deputy Ambassador. Participants learned more about China’s heritage, and how it enabled its people to raise out of poverty, fight for peace, and maintain it over the years. The internal and foreign policies were also expounded.
MUST looks forward to enriching its connections across the globe. Succeed we MUST
