In the age of globalization where boundaries to human interaction diminishes day by day, the 4IR presents new-age challenges with AI and robotics replacing manual labour that developing and under-developed economies must embrace or perish.

Having received the highest accreditation of a Charter in 2019, ISBAT University embarked on a transformative agenda of redefi ning university education in Uganda in a manner that facilitates technological and research-based curriculum to address social problems.

In an interview, Prof. Dr. K. M Mathew, the Vice Chancellor delves into the institution’s foundation, opportunities and challenges weathered in the institution’s 16 years of life thus far in excerpts below.

When and how was ISBAT University started?

ISBAT as a quality brand is in existence since 2006 when we established a tertiary institution (OTI), progressing to a degree awarding institution (ODAI) in 2013, and as a university with provisional license in 2016 with own modern and new age campus. ISBAT University became the first university to receive a Charter within the minimum stipulated timeframe by NCHE when H.E. The President of Uganda granted us a Charter in November 2019 upon the recommendation of the National Council for Higher Education.

What does it mean to be granted a charter?

A Charter is the highest accreditation of a university, and it is a mandatory requirement for private universities in Uganda to att ain the status within a given stipulated timeframe. Awards of a chartered university is at par and similar to that of a public university and is recognized world over. Moreover, a chartered university can off er research programs (PhD) and make collaborations globally. A Charter is a recognition of att aining benchmark standards for a university to be at par with global standards as established by the NCHE. It is to be noted that Uganda has over 43 private universities but only 12 have been chartered and ISBAT is one of them as seen on the website of NCHE.

Uganda is grappling with youth unemployment. How is ISBAT contributing to averting this crisis?

Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world with over 75% of the population is below the age of 30. This becomes a blessing when the youth is skilled appropriately to create jobs. ISBAT’s aim is to create job creators and not mere job seekers so that when students complete their studies, they become entrepreneurs, while most others are absorbed in the job market domestically and globally. ISBAT’s pedagogy is a shift from the conventional thinking of ‘award is the key’ to the ‘skill is the key’ whereby our system is student centric, molding her/him holistically to be an empowered citizen. Holistic education deals with outcomebased teaching/learning equipping a student with core competency, meta knowledge, and life skills to be a most successful person. We also have Job Centre to assist the students get jobs by the time they graduate.

What is unique and why should a student choose ISBAT?

It’s a very important question. Firstly, ISBAT is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) university and all our curriculum is designed to meet the objectives set in the National Development Plan (NDP III) and meeting standards of the 4IR. All our programs are up-to-date and are accredited by NCHE as well. Secondly, ISBAT has established a unique education philosophy as explained above, and education resources are provided seamlessly in-campus and on student portals meaning that the facilities are available 24×7. ISBAT is a home to students from over 20 countries enabling a student to be in a multiculture discipline. ISBAT’s learning environment is available to all communities seamlessly even in adverse situations like Covid-19 lockdown to ensure continuity. We never lost any academic sessions, thanks to our advancedtechnology implementation and proactive mindset. ISBAT’s system is student centric, ensuring equality and inclusiveness. The ERP portals are available for all stakeholders such as student, faculty, administrators, parents, and employers whereby up-to-date information is available to all stakeholders to ensure the student is on right track towards building her/ his career in a most healthy manner. This is very important for a student and parent as well.

There is a mismatch between what universities churn out and what the job market requires. How is ISBAT University bridging the gap?

ISBAT University’s curriculum is designed by industry-academia experts, meeting the present and future needs of various job segments. We know the fact that business concepts and technologies are rapidly changing and therefore it is important to integrate appropriate technologies even in business and science programs. As explained above, we ensure our curriculum is outcome based and meeting the national priorities and global standards whereby a graduating student will be relevant and applicable to the prevailing environments.

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) where Artificial Intelligence (AI) through use of robotics has presented challenges to the global economy as manual laborer will be reduced, creating more unemployment problems. How compliant are ISBAT University products?

Yes, as explained above, we adopt and implement programs which are in compliance with the revolutions that are taking place in the business, science and technology sectors globally. For e.g., some of the programs that we have implemented such as Artifi cial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IOT), Cyber Security and Forensics, Electronics Engineering are niche in nature to create vast areas of employment opportunities to graduates. When AI and Robots replace manual labours, we create engineers who design and create those robots with AI. Therefore, we are moving ahead of technologies to ensure relevance and applicability.

Universities, by their nature, are supposed to be the hotbed of research and innovation. How has ISBAT University embraced the two?

True, universities must be a platform for research, but there are shortcomings in funding especially in private universities due to policy related issues. At ISBAT, our curriculum is research based, training every student to initiate research and innovation. There are many live cases where students have demonstrated live innovations that could address many social issues, and given an opportunity, they can make several startup initiatives to create employments in the country. ISBAT is also planning to commence the Graduate programs (PhD) soon, and we hope to engage more research activities in the university. If there are friendly policies such as tax exemption for education and research activities, there would be revolutionary changes in the sector, creating employment opportunities. Concerted eff orts are required by the policy makers to strengthen the universities and research institutions to empower the youth and the nation.

What would you underscore as the successes at ISBAT University since inception?

ISBAT journey over the last 16 years in the higher education sector is a typical success story. We began our journey in a very humble manner as a tertiary institution (OTI), grown to the level of a degree awarding institution (ODAI), became a university and attained a Charter within a minimum stipulated timeframe is a tremendous milestone. We earned rich experience by passing through all levels of higher education, understanding issues and challenges, thereby we were able to be most successful as a STEM and Technology based university in the region. Various accolades that we earned year on year is a live testimony of our success and a very successful Alumni base of over 10,000 graduates is a testimony to our Vision, Mission, and Objectives.

What challenges subsist within and without the whole spectrum of education in Uganda?

The biggest challenge in the sector that we face is the high unit cost in the provision of education services, and the average level of affordability of the community is way below the unit cost, meaning that operational breakeven is hard to achieve. Education sector is high capital intensive, and the cost of finance is higher than what can be affordable for the education sector too. Moreover, availability of eligible professors in certain areas of emerging technologies pose a challenge, and we end up engaging foreign experts to fill the gap. I would also emphasize on need to review certain tax policies to ensure that the education sector becomes value based, making Uganda to be a hub for higher education.

What is your vision for ISBAT University?

Our vision is to make ISBAT the most sought-after destination for quality higher education, in Business, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the East African region and to provide the best skilling and research opportunities to our students. The Mott o of our university as inscribed on our logo is “Ego Sum Lux Mundi”, inscribed in Latin, meaning “I am the light of the World”. As a responsible educator, it’s our responsibility to remove darkness from the life of an aspiring student and create lights of hope, inspiration, and opportunity by providing a sense of direction, aptitude, and ability to sustain. Our slogan is “Empowering Lives, Empowering Uganda, Empowering Africa” and we stand by the slogan by all means. Our visionary founders are in the process of planning and development of a residential campus at global standards in a huge chunk of lands bought along Hoima Road, and we pray that we be able to accomplish that bigger dream in the nearest future by the grace of God.