Ruth Nsibirano and Juliana Koury Gaioso
The remarkable journey of Gender and digitalisation across context (Gendig) at Makerere University
One of the key interventions of the GENDIG project is to digitalise courses at the Masters programme in Gender Studies at Makerere University, with the aim of enhancing access, increasing timely completion and eliminating attrition/ drop-outs for admitted graduate students. Here, we delve into the intriguing story of how digitalization unfolded, highlighting the significant steps and key individuals who paved the way for this transformative project.
Digitalization is not a mere transfer of life into the digital realm; it entails a complex process involving numerous offline elements and the collaborative efforts of many individuals. At Makerere University, the journey towards digitalization commenced with essential factors such as institutional partnerships flagged off with the signing of a contract between Makerere University and NOARD, political support and project launch at a colorful inception meeting, hardware acquisition, and comprehensive training.
In late 2021, the seeds of this groundbreaking initiative were sown, bringing together a dedicated team of visionaries. Noteworthy figures involved in the project’s inception included Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, the esteemed Director of Graduate School at that time. Alongside him, Professor Josephine Ahikire, the respected Principal of CHUSS (College of Humanities and Social Sciences), and Associate Professor Sarah Ssali, the accomplished Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies, attended the project launch and gave their remarks at the inception meeting, together with Dr. Ruth Nsibirano the Project PI.
The Gender and Digitisation project garnered essential resources to propel its mission forward. Project equipment, including six cutting-edge laptop computers, a state-of-the-art projector, and a high-quality scanner, were procured. These technological tools were specifically chosen to empower the team in their pursuit of project goals and to facilitate seamless execution.
The journey of Gendig at Makerere University is a promising testament to the transformative power of digitalization. Stay tuned as we explore further milestones and achievements in this groundbreaking project.