This presentation is part of the 5th African Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Conference in Uganda, 14-16 October 2015

1. MAINSTREAMING ESD IN UGANDA MARTYRS
UNIVERSITY , NKOZI(UMU) AND THE
SETTING UP OF THE GREATER MASAKA RCE
• Name of Institution: UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY,NKOZI
• Names of ITP Change Project Participant and Co-Participant:
Aloysius Byaruhanga & Jimmy Spire Ssentongo
• Year of participation in ITP: 2009
• Country of origin: UGANDA

2. THE UNIVERSITY LOGO

3. ITP Change Project context, problem being
responded to, and start up decisions
• The Change Project was initiated in response the declaration of
UNDESD by the United Nations & the launching of MESA by UNEP,
UNESCO,AAU, SIDA and several other partners
• The Problem being responded to was the perceived concern of
lack of environmental sustainability locally and globally which
called for an appropriate response. The participant & co-
participant felt it important to write the change project in 2009 to
cause change through their university.

4. Development of the ITP Change project
(Summary of Phase 1-5 of the ITP)
• Phase 1 Institutional Audit (Jan.-April2009) was followed by
the Regional Workshop at UMU on 15th April,2009
• Phase 2 the ITP for participant in Sweden (April 27-May 15) and
• Phase 3 was at UMU and involved further development of the
Change Project
• Phase 4 was based in Nairobi for both participant & co-
participant (20th -31st July). We developed the course outlines and
put together the teaching materials
• Phase 5 at UMU it was the stage of training for management,
staff, and student leaders. The Change project was implemented,
evaluated & improved & reported to UMU Community & to SIDA.

5. THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF UMU RECEIVES
FROM DR, BABIKWA OF NEMA GIFT

6. Support for the ITP Change Project
(institutional)
• I wish to acknowledge the support for our change project from
the main stakeholders namely
- Top management who gave the approval of our application for
the initiation of the change project& moral and financial support
up to now
the University Governing Council and Senate for approving in
principle so far the proposed mainstreaming of ESD
- The Staff both teaching and non-teaching for their various
roles played
- the Student leaders, students and various student clubs for
various initiatives undertaken by the in promotion of the project

7. Main results of the ITP Change Project
(personal professional, educational,
institutional, developmental, societal)
• The participant & co-participant got specialised training in form of
knowledge ,skills and attitudes for promoting ESD
• The management , staff ,student leaders and all UMU community
were sensitised to issues pertaining to the mainstreaming of ESD
in the programmes, policies and practices of the university
• Elements ESD were incorporated in the 10 year strategic plan and
in the revised university Charter
• Initial group of volunteer staff from all faculties were trained in
approaches for mainstreaming ESD by integrating its principles,
philosophy & perspectives

8. Expansion and extension of the ITP Change
Project – what has happened since
• Jimmy S. Ssentongo has graduated with a Masters degree in
Education for Sustainability from London South Bank University
and has written several books and articles on sustainabity. A.
Byaruhanga has designed and taught a course on ESD in Masters
programme in education & has published on ESD
• Most Faculties have initiated programmes or courses inline with
ESD e.g, in Faculty of Built Environment, Fac . of Agriculture, Fac.
of Health Sciences, East African School of Diplomacy Governance
& International Studies. STEP ( Training in entrepreneurship
started for finalists under Faculty of Business Adm. & Mgt)
• UMU greening & paving of main campus , signing of Earth Charter
, joining GUPES & hosting of Greater Masaka RCE , passing of
UMU policy on HIV /AIDS as part of community service

9. Future plans for expanding the Change
Project initiative
• The proposal to establish the Greater Masaka RCE was forwarded
to the United Nations University in Yokohama, Japan
• A comprehensive final draft for the proposal to mainstream ESD
in UMU is to be tabled to Senate before the end of 2014 so that
all our old and new programmes will embed aspects of ESD
• More detailed training is envisaged for all stakeholders but
especially those not yet catered for up to now e.g Faculty Admins.
• An ESD Resource Centre to be expanded with external assistance
• All finalist student are to undergo training in Entrepreneurship
• Promotion of strategic partnerships for mutual benefit & visits to
be initiated to enable us learn good local or global practices

12. THE APPLICATION TO ESTABLISH THE
GREATER MASAKA RCE
• The Application to establish the Greater Masaka RCE has now
reached an advanced stage
• A comprehensive application document was sent to the UN
University in Yokohama in June 2015
• It has been peer reviewed and report of feedback have been
received from London and Munich
• The preparations for the application passed through two
workshops for sensitisation and selection of issues of concern on
was on 13th April,2010 in Masaka and the 2nd meeting was at our
university campus on 11th July,2013
• The vision of GMARCE is to be a leading centre of expertise
promoting ESD in this region

13. GMARCE ( CONTINUED)
• The Mission of GMARCE is to promote sustainability
consciousness and boost sustainable utilization of available
resources in the Greater Masaka Region in order to get
transformed from a peasant to a modern and prosperous region
as envisaged in Vision 2040. It will entail improving quality of life
through improving quality of education. As an RCE we aim at
providing a learning space towards SD challenge of the region
through ESD
• Short term objectives
a)To identify gaps in translating taught knowledge into practice
b) To embed indigenous knowledge and modern technology for SD
c) To promote action research for SD

14. GMARCE ( CONTINUED)
• Long term objectives
a) To improve the livelihoods the communities through sustainable
entrepreneurship
b) To promote action research for SD
c) To promote practical educational approach for ESD for both
academic and non-academic platfoms
Strategies
A number of strategies will be initiated to achieve these
objectivess
Outcomes will sum up into transformation of society in the
region