Islamic University In Uganda: A Success Story of a Muslim Minority Institution

1. Islamic University In Uganda:A Success Story of a Muslim Minority Institution

2. Opening remarks • Thank Allah • Thank IIIT • Thank founders – OIC & GoU • Thank Development partners – ISF, IDB, KSA, .. • All Guests

3. Introduction • Universities are the pinnacle of the education ladder. • Expected to: • Teach already available knowledge • Create new knowledge through research • Serve the social good. • Produce graduates who possess human values that can make them global citizens • Universities reflect what is happening in • society generally

4. Introduction • On 10/2/1988, that is 2½ decades ago, a new dawn was ushered in the sector of Higher education in Uganda. • On that day, ¼ of a century ago, the horizon of University education in Uganda was extended beyond the reach of Makerere University. • It was on that day, 10/2/1988, that Uganda’s 2nd University, but 1st Private University was born. From that day on both the history & future of university education in Uganda was altered.

5. History • 1974 Lahore Summit • Purpose: Provide education opportunities for socio-economic development • Location: Arivu in Arua District • 1979 - 1986: Period of uncertainty. Location changed to Mbale in Obote II • Nov. 26, 1987: Bilateral Agreement between OIC & GoU signed. • Joint Committee of OIC & GoU

6. History … • Sept 1987 Joint Committee agreed that Nkoma SS to be taken up. • GoU to second pioneer staff to start the University in Dec. 1987. • Nov. 1987 pioneer staff took over Nkomass & started preparations. • January 31, 1988: Joint Committee meeting in Mbale decided to open on 10th February, 1988. Late Hon. AlhajjAbubakerMayanja as acting Rector

7. History … • Initial challenges: • Renovate the facilities • Convert a day school into a boarding university • Decide on what is to be taught, design the curriculum • Set up teaching-learning facilities – library, books, • Recruit students • Recruit staff • Convince the country & the world that IUIU was indeed a University. • Over come internal Muslim contradictions

8. History … • Opportunities • The OIC wanted the University to start • H.E. the President & his Government wanted the University to start • Makerere University could not admit all the qualified students. • There were people who were prepared to sacrifice to get the university moving.

9. The Beginning • February 10, 1988 • 80 students – all Ugandans • 2 degree programmes – • BA with Education – 3 years • BA (Islamic Studies & Arabic Language.) – 4 years • Is it true? • Wait and see.

10. Makerere Model of a University • Though private, IUIU started like a public University providing: • Free education – full board • Free stationery • Transport to and from home district – air tickets • Boom – (Pocket money) • The curriculum was basically the same as that of MUK • IUIU added the moral component – dress code, No free mixing, emphasis on other human values, etc

11. Vision • The university was envisioned to “be a centre of excellence in the production and dissemination of knowledge that contribute to relevant skills as well as appropriate training necessary for production of an all round believing individual capable of participating fully in his/her society”.

12. Mission • The university “aspires to function as a highly academic and cultural institution based on Islam and love of the country. It aims at promoting and enhancing the civilization and scientific influence of Islam and physical world to produce well-cultured, morally-upright graduates of sound character, equipped with useful skills and knowledge, to enable them participate positively in the development process of their countries”.

13. Wakeup Call • By 1991, we had started experiencing financial hardships – realisation that free University education was not sustainable. • Internal contradictions were also not absent – leading to the 1993 crisis. Prof. Haq out & hon. Ali K.K. appointed acting Rector • 1994 Prof. MahdiAdamu appointed Rector. Internal stability but funding was still a problem.

14. Change Model • 1995 introduced fees – stopped all previous privileges. • This pay-as-you-study policy helped to mitigate some of the financial hardships of the University but it also created other challenges: • What happens to the brilliant but poor students? • How much fees is affordable & enough to enable the University offer quality education?

15. Fees not enough • Soon it was clear that fees alone were not enough to meet the needs of a University. • Besides, while the unit cost of education a student at IUIU at that time was about US$1,500 per year, the students were paying on about US$ 600! Even then about 20% of the students would fail to raise the money.

16. Administrative Challenges • 1995 – 2004: • unpaid salaries & statutory obligations; • lack of infrastructural development, • shortage of basic teaching facilities, etc. • Strikes, • court case, etc

17. Change in Approach • 2004 change in management which adopted a new approach after reviewing many of the policies that were operating before then. • Focus was put on finding ways of more effective financial management, diversifying sources, & more prudent utilisation & sharing of the limited available funds. • Since then, salaries are paid on time, all statutory obligations met, & improvements in facilities and infrastructures.

18. Progress since 1988 CurrentStudent Enrollment The Students come from 21 countries

19. Four Campuses • Main Campus at Mbale – 1988 2. Kampala Campus – 2001 3. AruaCampus - 2007 4. Females Campus – 2008

20. Location of Campuses Sudan Arua Campus 3 Congo 1 Main Campus Mbale 2 Females’ Campus 4 Kampala Campus Kenya Tanzania Rwanda

21. Academic Programs • Curriculum – 56 academic programs in 6 faculties (colleges)fully accredited by NCHE, Law Council, & the Uganda Nurses & Midwives Council. • Islamic Studies & Arabic Language • Education – Arts & Science teachers • Arts & Social sciences • Management Studies • Science • Law – Common law & Islamic Law

22. Academic Programmes • Centre for Postgraduate Studies – • MBA, • MPA, • M.Ed, • MA – Sharia, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language, • MA History, • MA Peace & Conflict Resolution; • MSc Zoology, • MSc Environmental Sciences; • Ph.DSharia, Arabic Language, Public Administration, Economics.

23. Graduates

24. IUIU Graduates for the Last 11 years

25. Graduates • Where are the IUIU graduates? • Public sector - Ministries - Parliament - Local Governments etc. • Private sector • Diaspora • IUIU • Other Institutions

26. Staff • 718 staff members • 8 nationalities • 54 on Staff Development Program – 16 of whom are doing Ph.Ds. • They are in 13 countries – 4 continents • Over 70 masters & 30 Ph.Ds completed under SDP. • Some visiting academicians

27. Strategies for Quality Control • Quality Assurance (QA) Committee headed by the Vice Rector (Academic Affairs) • QA Committees at the Faculty level • Students’ evaluation of academic staff is being reintroduced. • External Examiners – Uganda, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Kenya. • External Assessors – ISESCO, Inter-University Council for East Africa • Visiting Academics– University of Colorado, Germany University, UK., Southern Illinois, Cabondale, Mercer University

28. Research • Many of our staff have carried out various research projects • Some research awards from World Bank, European Union, ISESCO & Rockefeller Foundation. • Research Committee • Research, Publications and Innovation • working on a Research Agenda.

29. Awards • In November 2010, two of our departments, won the national “Innovation and Sustainability in Universities’ Award”. • The Vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs, won the 2010 Excellent Leadership Award of the Islamic Development Bank as their former best Merit Scholar for Higher Science and Technology. • 14th December, 2011, IUIU to be given The Le Matinal Educational Excellence Awards in Mauritius byTheAfrica - India Partnership Summit • February 2012 International Social SciencesForumAward

30. Ongoing major Researches • Oral Muslim History – funded by ISESCO • Muslim Education in Uganda – in collaboration with UMTA. • 1st National Conference on Muslim education was held in 2010 – Major resolution was the establishment of the Uganda Muslim Education Fund • 2nd national Conference on Muslim education was held in July 2013.

31. Community Service • Da’awa activities – Juma Programs, caravans, Career guidance in Schools, Conventions, Qur’an Recitation competitions, etc • Immunisation programmes • Training of Muslim leaders – Lango, Karamoja, Pallisa, Bugisu, etc • Needy students’ community program in Budaka District

32. IUIU Zakat Fund • Contributions from staff salaries + 1 outsider • Scholarships for Needy students –orphans • Treatment of the sick - • Construction of a classroom block at Ongara Primary school • Housing for the elderly • Financial help – Imam, women, low cadre staff

33. Hajj Programme • With support from Sultan Al Nahayan Foundation of UAE, the University has enabled some staff and members of the Muslim community to perform Hajj – the 5th Pillar of Islam: These have included staff, students and some members of the community

34. Challenges 1. Shortage of Physical facilities: • Lecture rooms • Staff Houses • Library space • Offices • Sports • Students’ residences

35. Challenges • Finances • No government contribution to the annual budget of IUIU • Limited grants & donations • 1 endowment – King Fahd Plaza • Fees contribute about 80% of the budget • 20% of the students fail to raise fees • Few scholarships.

36. Challenges 3. Staff Welfare: • Salaries/allowances not the best • Inflation • Statutory obligations reduce the net take home of staff – We pay about UGX 160 million per month to government bodies. • Staff retention is a challenge due to poor pay. • Attracting bright graduates to teach in Universities is not easy. • Can we learn from success stories elsewhere?

37. 4. Challenges from other Universities • Fundamental Change in the education sector under the NRM Government. UPE &USE • 31 licensed universities in Uganda: • 5 Government • 5 Businessmen • 20 Faith - based • 1 Islamic University • Competition for staff. • Competition for jobs by graduates from the different universities.

38. Future Plans • Consolidate the gains • Improve financial base – • More endowments e.g Nsambya Land – Grateful to H.E. the President • Mobilise more grants & donations • Income generating projects • Find more scholarships • New programmes in S&T – Medicine, Engineering, Masters in IT, etc

39. Conclusion • Although at the moment there are challenges that we have not yet overcome, we should not despair. The fact that IUIU has survived for 2½ decades so far, we look to the future with a lot of hope and optimism that things shall be better, insh Allah. We have made some progress. “I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.” • In the last 25 years we have bought some nice shoes, our legs have become longer, and our feet have become more stable. We should be able to run as we go towards the next 25 years touchline.

40. Conclusion … • The world is facing many challenges • What should be our focus amidst all these? • Focus on: • Quality education for our children: “The welfare of a nation cannot be greater than the education of its people.” World Bank • Build strong research capacity

41. Sufficient Funds are Needed • Quality education is not cheap. The African countries must commit the necessary resources required to have quality education. “ If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” “ If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him.”

42. Conclusion … • “What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.”Bernard Saw

43. Conclusion • The World Bank observed that “Poor nations are not only poor in wealth but are poor in knowledge,” • President Kennedy observed that “The progress of our nation cannot be faster than the progress of our education system.” • To seek knowledge is a must for every Muslim – male & female. • IUIU at 50 must be a centre of academic excellence that is next to none in Africa. May Allah accept. Ameen

44. Some facilities at IUIU

45. New Lecture Room Block at Mbale

46. Stalled Projects at the Main Campus1) Females’ Hostel • This was started in 2007 to enable the University admit more girls then. The ground floor was completed and now accommodates 108 girls. The next two floors need at least US$ 230,000 to complete.

47. 2) Guest House Extension • This was started in 2006 and the ground floor was completed and is being used. The next two floors need at least US$ 250,000 to complete.

48. IUIU Kampala Campus ProjectNew Lecture-room and Administrative Block

49. Females’ Campus ProjectsThe IDB Funded Students’ Hostel

50. ii)The Swimming Pool