Visit to Gulu University (GU), Uganda
Between 12 and 17 April, the Gulu University (GU) in the Northern Region of Uganda was the scene of the formulation week for the newly starting Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) between Gulu University and several Flemish higher education institutions. The IUC has the ambition to strengthen the institutional capacity to deliver community-driven and evidence-based agri-food systems research products and services for inclusive socio-economic transformation of refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda.
A delegation of Flemish academics (Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp HOGENT and Howest), UGENT staff of the International Office and our VLIRUOS colleagues Kathleen Wuytack and Arne Willems worked together with the GU team and local stakeholders to further develop the five-year plan.
Chaired by the Deputy Vice Principle (Professor David Davy Okello Owiny), the week kicked off with a high-level meeting with the top management of the GU, confirming the readiness and the commitment of all stakeholders towards this project. This was followed by a tour at the Faculty of Agriculture where the IUC secretariat will be located. In the following days, the two project coordinators (Prof. Duncan Ongeng and Prof. Xavier Gellynck) and the project manager (Dr. Solomon Olum), guided the delegation through a successful formulation week, shaping a programme that will result in better income, food security, youth employment and environmental sustainability in refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda.
