On October 4th, 2024, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, Senior Ashoka Fellow and Vice Chancellor of African Rural University (ARU), delivered an insightful presentation titled “Integrating Higher Education in the Sustainability of the Parish Development Model (PDM)” at the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum at Best Western Hotel, Entebbe.

The purpose of the presentation was to explore how higher education institutions can contribute to the PDM’s sustainability, building on the transformative work of African Rural University focused on rural transformation.

While delivering his presentation, Dr. Mwalimu gave a brief overview of the PDM as a multi-sectoral strategy introduced by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to improve the incomes and welfare of Ugandans by bringing services closer to the citizens.

Citing the Ministry of Local Government, Dr. Mwalimu noted that the Parish Development Model positions the parish as the epicenter of multi-sectoral community development, planning, implementation, supervision, and accountability. The parish serves as the lowest reference unit for planning, budgeting, and delivering interventions to drive socio-economic transformation.

Basing on the mandate of higher education, Dr Mwalimu emphasized that higher education institutions have a pivotal role to play in driving sustainable development in Uganda through their involvement in the Parish Development Model (PDM). He noted that Universities can   leverage their strength in research, teaching and learning, technology, innovation, and community engagement to support PDM initiatives.

From left: ARU Executive Josephine Nampeewo, ARU University Secretary Rose Keishanyu, and ARU Vice Chancellor Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe (center) at the VCF Workshop.

In terms of the current reality around higher education, Dr. Mwalimu highlighted   that PDM is not embedded in the core programmes of most universities in Uganda, with the exception of ARU. He emphasized the need for institutions to move away from working in silos and embrace a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach in education.

Regarding ARU’s work around the PDM, Dr. Mwalimu noted that ARU employs the visionary approach and systems thinking to its programming. This enables communities, through ARU graduates, to create mind maps of what they truly want.

In terms of the education model, Dr. Mwalimu explained that the ARU curriculum is integrated, thus aligning with the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV). As a result, students in their practicum and internships engage in PDM programs, where they participate in mindset change initiatives, financial inclusion programs with the parishes, and community-based radio programming to educate the community about the PDM, its objectives, and benefits.

“This includes explaining the background of the PDM, the process of PDM registration, enterprise selection, and the role of community participation. Over 22 districts are reached weekly on Kagadi-Kibaale Community Radio, covering areas from Mityana to Bundibugyo and from Kasese to Kiryandongo. All those districts are covered. We also use virtual learning platforms like Zoom,” Dr. Mwalimu explained.

In terms of Challenges around PDM, Dr Mwalimu zeroed on low awareness around PDM, insufficient research around PDM, financial indiscipline, transparency, and lack of localization of PDM programmes are key challenges.

Moving forward, Dr. Mwalimu emphasized the need to contextualize development work in higher education around Uganda’s ideology   saying;

‘’By connecting the PDM with national blueprints like Vision 2040, the National Development Plan IV (NDP 4), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), and the Africa Agenda 2063, we can create a more coherent and impactful development framework. Higher education institutions can serve as catalysts for innovation, research, and capacity building, ensuring that the PDM is not only relevant but also responsive to the evolving needs and challenges of our communities’’.

He also stressed the need to establish a collaboration framework between higher education institutions and PDM stakeholders, integrate PDM-related topics into university curricula, prioritize community engagement, and conduct research with proper funding around PDM initiatives.

At the UVCF Annual Conference 2024, which brought together various universities and stakeholders, Prof. Jude Lubega, Vice Chancellor of Nkumba University, delivered the keynote on AI’s transformative impact on teaching, learning, and administration. Dr. Godliver Owomugisha, Senior Lecturer at Busitema University, presented a case study on the challenges and opportunities of AI implementation in curricula at her institution