UC-IUC 2022 (Phase 1) - Institutional University Cooperation with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)

UG2022IUC043A105 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2027 The MUST IUC partnership hereafter referred to as UCoBS, focuses on strengthening the Mbarara University of Science and Technology flagship Community Based Education, Research and Service. This focus will be achieved through a reciprocal model using a participatory, innovative, multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder and gender-based approach blended with information communication and technology to achieve improved and sustainable household livelihoods in South Western Uganda. These approaches aim at contributing to the redress of demographic challenges that have become a topical issue on the national and international agenda. The partnership is premised on institutional capacity gaps and six community-oriented thematic areas targeting most at risk populations. These thematic areas are (i) improved environmental conservation practices and natural resources management and governance by indigenous people; (ii) improved mechanisms for climate change adaptation for sustainable food production for small-scale farmers; (iii) improved access and utilisation of affordable energy technologies among the female-headed households and the urban poor; (iv) improved sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, children and adolescents of the local population and refugees; (v) increased youth employability through skilling, innovations, experiential learning and technology transfer and; (vi) improved institutional and community ICT capacity to access and utilise information. The thematic areas resonate with the VLIR-UOS main objectives that include; conservation of ecosystems, resilience to climate change, ensuring healthy lives, equitable and quality education, improved research, innovation and entrepreneurship. In phase one, the partnership is hoped to strengthen institutional research and innovation capacity, inclusive knowledge creation and community dividends supported by operational soft and hard infrastructure systems. To achieve the outcomes, the university will leverage on the existing partnerships and work closely with her Flemish partners.