As higher education institutions across Uganda increasingly embrace Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET), African Rural University (ARU) is strengthening its capacity to ensure that learning translates into practical skills, innovation and meaningful transformation in rural communities.

ARU this week concluded a week-long workshop on CBET designed to strengthen the capacity of its women staff and faculty to apply competence-based approaches in teaching, curriculum development, assessment and quality assurance.

The workshop, held from 26 to 31 July 2026 at the ARU campus in Kagadi, focused on key foundations of CBET, including competence-based curriculum design, assessment approaches, quality assurance standards, and monitoring and evaluation.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for staff to reflect on ARU’s readiness to continuously design, deliver and assess academic programmes that respond to the needs of learners, employers and rural communities.

The sessions were facilitated by Ms. Joy Alinda, Acting Academic Registrar, and Ms. Doloka Namutosi, Quality Assurance Officer, who guided participants through academic processes, curriculum alignment, quality assurance requirements and mechanisms for continuous improvement.

The workshop builds on ARU’s longstanding commitment to an education model that connects theory with practice and equips women with the competencies needed to contribute to sustainable rural transformation.

Insights and lessons from the workshop will inform the ongoing strengthening, review and delivery of ARU’s academic programmes as the university continues to advance competence-based learning and its distinctive model of rural-focused education.

By design from inception ,ARU has been a fore-runner in promoting competence-based and transformative education, with a longstanding focus on learner centred competence linking academic learning with practical application, community engagement and rural transformation.

Presentations during the workshop were led by acting Academic Registrar Ms Joy Alinda and ARU Quality Assurance Officer Ms Doloka Namutosi, who guided participants through CBET overview, curriculum alignment, quality assurance requirements and continuous improvement mechanisms.

Quality assurance officer making a presentation on standards around CBET

By Joseph Odoi

Communication and Marketing Officer, African Rural University