Sudhir Ruparelia Welcomes New Era Of Expansion At Victoria University Planning Forum

By Gad Masereka

Victoria University turned its attention to the next decade of its growth on Friday as leaders, staff and invited partners gathered at Speke Resort Munyonyo for an event that blended reflection with renewed ambition. The university used the occasion to reveal its new strategic direction for the years ahead, presenting a plan that sets out how it intends to strengthen its academic model, expand its physical footprint and deepen its role in the country’s higher education landscape. The gathering also marked the installation of the institution’s first tribunal, although the central focus of the day rested on the long term vision for the university and the priorities that will guide it.

The presence of the university’s director and board chairman, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, gave the ceremony additional weight. His stewardship has shaped much of the university’s recent development and staff frequently credit his long term view for enabling investments that smaller institutions would struggle to undertake. Many of the guests, including members of the University Council, senior managers and representatives of partner universities, responded warmly as he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting a model of education rooted in modern facilities and practical learning.

The university secretary, Mrs M. G. Katusabe Ssemwezi, opened the programme with a detailed account of the thinking behind the new strategy. She described it as a guide for an institution that wants to rise to global standards while responding to the anxieties and aspirations of Uganda’s youthful population. Her remarks set the platform for the Vice Chancellor, Prof Lawrence Muganga, whose speech placed the emphasis on transforming the learning experience. He said the university intends to build a culture where students acquire competence by engaging directly with real work environments and where lecturers use evidence based teaching to create meaning rather than repetition.

Prof Muganga told the audience that the strategic plan sets out a future built on technology, human centred learning and a commitment to preparing graduates for complex realities. He explained that the university will strengthen programmes that link students to employers through work integrated learning and that research output will be directed toward national development concerns. He added that the forthcoming mega campus, made possible through land provided by Dr Ruparelia, will allow the university to introduce laboratories, digital studios and collaborative spaces that match international benchmarks.

The plan attracted interest from visiting academics who noted that the university is attempting to move beyond traditional lecture driven education. They pointed to the combination of block teaching, competency based assessments and partnerships with external organisations as signs that the institution is attempting to create a more flexible and employment oriented model. One senior lecturer from a partner institution remarked that the strategy reflects a realistic understanding of how workplaces have evolved and that students who complete such programmes are likely to navigate their careers more confidently.

Although the tribunal inauguration took up part of the programme, it was presented mainly as a governance mechanism intended to support the broader transformation. Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, who administered the oaths, reminded those present that the tribunal serves as a first point for resolving disputes within the institution. Chancellor Prof John Opuda Asibo encouraged the members to act with discretion and fairness, noting that an institution with ambitious academic goals must also maintain strong internal systems that protect its community.

As the event drew to a close, Dr Ruparelia expressed confidence that the plan will move the university toward the kind of relevance it has long sought to achieve. He said the years ahead will require discipline, creativity and a willingness to keep adjusting to change, but he believes the institution is well positioned to meet those demands. His remarks were followed by a pledge from the tribunal chairperson, Mr Elisha Bafirawala, who assured the university community that the body will offer impartial and timely decisions that reinforce trust across the institution.

With the strategic plan now taking effect, Victoria University enters a period in which its intentions will be tested by implementation. The vision presented at Munyonyo suggests an institution preparing to redefine its identity in a crowded higher education sector and to strengthen its place as a centre for practical, technology supported learning. The coming years will reveal how far these commitments can carry the university and how they shape the experience of students who hope to find in it a route to meaningful opportunity.