The much-anticipated Summer School on “Women-Led Change: Community Engagement and Rural Development in Uganda” has officially commenced at African Rural University (ARU) in Kagadi, Uganda. Running from 26th to 31st May 2025, this year’s edition brings together a diverse cohort of students, lecturers, and researchers from institutions including University of Groningen ,  Gulu University, Team University, and Makerere University.

Organized in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Lifelong Learning, Youth, and Work, the Summer School is hosted at ARU, Uganda’s only all-women university, known for its unique education model that blends academic theory with transformative rural practice. ARU trains women to become rural transformation specialists capable of empowering communities through participatory approaches to development, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.

Addressing Uganda’s Development Challenges through Education

Uganda continues to grapple with high youth unemployment and a mismatch between higher education outputs and labor market needs. While many young people are graduating, opportunities for decent work remain limited. Entrepreneurship, particularly in rural contexts, is increasingly seen as a viable pathway but it demands practical skills, innovation, and a deep understanding of local realities.

To change these narratives, the Summer School offers a dynamic space for participants to explore community engagement, rural entrepreneurship, climate change, and women’s leadership in development. This year’s programme includes field visits, action research, workshops, and dialogues with ARU students, staff, traditional wisdom specialists, and local families.

Led by Josje van der Linden  the UNESCO Chair  and Lectuere from the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, the course is grounded in experiential learning. Participants will engage in community action research, gain exposure to ARU’s model of visionary leadership, and observe firsthand how ARU graduates women trained as change agents facilitate self-reliant development in rural Uganda.

Throughout the week, themes such as climate adaptation, student well-being, community-centered higher education, and intercultural collaboration will be explored. These will culminate in community-participatory workshops developed and presented by the participants on the final day of the programme.

The summer school brings together voices from Uganda, Europe and beyond with an aim to create shared knowledge on women-led change, and spotlight the critical role of rural universities like ARU in shaping Africa’s future.

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance