The Director DICTS-Mr. Samuel Mugabi (Seated Right) with members of Management and stakeholders at the ICT Policies Review Workshop on 13th August 2024.
Makerere University has initiated a thorough review of its ICT policies. The review process, spearheaded by the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), aims to update the university’s ICT policies to align with current global trends and concerns.
On August 13th, 2024, DICTS convened a workshop at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) Conference Hall, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders. Participants included members of the university’s central management, principals, unit heads, student leaders, and representatives from external organizations such as the National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U), MTN Uganda, and Centenary Technology Services Ltd.
During the workshop, Mr. Samuel Mugabi, Director of DICTS, provided an overview of the policy review process. He highlighted the need to address current global concerns and technological trends, including cyber security, digital transformation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), environmental sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
Participants were then divided into six working groups to discuss various sections of the ICT Policy Framework. The working groups focused on policies related to ICT governance, web content publishing, email, ICT accessibility, disposal of electronic waste, and data security.
The working groups provided valuable feedback and recommendations, including the need to clearly define roles and responsibilities, specify stakeholders, and reference relevant national policies. The participants also emphasized the importance of enforcing policies and sanctions where applicable.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Mugabi thanked participants for their contributions and announced that DICTS would synthesize the feedback and incorporate it into the revised policies. The revised policies will be shared with working group members for further input before being presented to the University Council’s Quality Assurance, Gender and ICT Committee.
This comprehensive review of ICT policies demonstrates Makerere University’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance research, teaching, and learning, while addressing emerging technological challenges.
