By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University is taking bold steps to transform doctoral education, moving away from an over-reliance on overseas institutions and reaffirming the continent’s ability to provide world-class doctoral academic training.
Addressing a gathering of PhD students at the end of the ten days cross-cutting doctoral course in Advanced Research Methods, at the University Main Library on Friday July 31, 2025, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma recounted his own academic journey and the challenges faced by earlier generations of scholars who sought opportunities abroad.
“Many of us were deflected and disheartened when policies restricted access to overseas programs unless they were unavailable in Africa,” he said. “We were made to believe that the best knowledge only resided outside the continent. But my experience taught me otherwise—Africa has the resources and intellectual capacity to nurture scholars capable of solving its own problems.”
He further shared how he eventually pursued his PhD at the University of Cape Town, later realizing that the perceived gap between African and Western universities was largely political and rooted in global power dynamics surrounding knowledge creation.
Prof. Kikooma emphasized the importance of “learning to unlearn and relearn”, a critical foundation of doctoral studies, adding that “serious doctoral studies demand openness, debate, critique, and a willingness to challenge entrenched ideas.”
He emphasized that Makerere University is now recreating the classic “101 Lecture” experience, traditionally offered at undergraduate level, where first-year students met renowned professors at the pinnacle of their disciplines. This model is being revived at the doctoral level, ensuring PhD students / candidates regularly engage with world-class intellectuals in teaching, academic writing, and publishing.
“We are committed to creating an environment where intellectual curiosity thrives. Doctoral training is about stretching your thinking and using it creatively to solve national and global problems. We want every PhD student here to leave with no regrets about choosing Makerere University.”
Read the full story on: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2025/08/makerere-university-repositions-doctoral-training-to-build-africa-centered-scholarship/