By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa, Umoja Standard.
Munyonyo, Uganda: Hon. JC Muyingo, State Minister for Higher Education, stressed the importance of regional integration in higher education, stressing the need for stronger harmonization of quality assurance systems.
This would facilitate student mobility, graduate employability, and economic growth in the East African region, he said.
The Minister called on education leaders to transform political support into actionable strategies to strengthen quality assurance and regional integration in higher education. The goal is to align national higher education systems while respecting each country’s unique context by 2027.
On her part, Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol, Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education, observed that the forum has been a working platform aimed at securing clear commitments and practical steps to advance regional cooperation.
East Africa’s integration agenda demands mutual trust in systems, recognition of qualifications, and seamless talent mobility.
Okwakol highlighted milestones, including developed regional qualifications frameworks and growing collaboration among entities like IUCEA and EAQAN.
Despite these achievements, challenges persist, notably varying standards that hinder mutual recognition and resource gaps impacting robust QA frameworks.
Okwakol stated that opportunities abound in unlocking student and staff mobility, strengthening labor market relevance, and harnessing digital transformation. The dialogue’s priorities revolve around putting students at the center for mobility and employability, modernizing frameworks to align national standards with regional benchmarks, and building partnerships and trust with professional councils and industry.
Relatedly Professor Paul Muoki Nzioki, President of the Higher Education Network in East Africa, stressed the need for robust quality assurance in education as the region undergoes rapid digital transformation.
Uganda’s National Council for Higher Education is integrating technology into quality assurance and promoting competence-based education, fostering partnerships between academia and industry to enhance student and staff mobility and drive regional integration in East Africa
The 14th Annual East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum conference concluded with a renewed commitment to enhancing regional integration in higher education.
State Minister Muyingo appreciated the efforts of people running the race of education for its sustainability and commented positively on the increasing recognition in enhancing quality education. The theme of the conference was “Enhancing Regional Integration into Permanent Higher Education System.”
