Makerere University Business School Principal, Prof. Moses Muhwezi, attended the 16th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Inter- University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), held from July 29 to 31, 2025, in Kinshasa, D e m o c r a t i c Republic of Congo.
Delegates at the 16th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA)
The three-day conference featured engaging discussions on the future of higher education in the East African region.
The annual IUCEA conference brings together Vice Chancellors, Principals, University Administrators, Education Policymakers, and Government officials from East African Community (EAC) member states. The forum serves to reaffirm a collective commitment to regional integration through academic collaboration and innovation.
This year’s conference focused on three critical areas: analyzing emerging trends shaping higher education and their impact on the East African Common Higher Education Area; developing regional strategies that integrate micro-credentials, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and transdisciplinary approaches into a cohesive, quality-assured education framework; and fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking among stakeholders to encourage strategic partnerships for sustainable development.
The conference offered a key platform for academia to address pressing challenges in the sector. Discussions focused on curriculum modernization, enhancing student mobility across borders, strengthening research collaboration, and aligning academic programs with the demands of the modern workforce.
A major highlight of the meeting was the urgent need to prepare Universities for the integration of AI technologies. Participants acknowledged AI’s transformative potential in reshaping teaching, learning, and administrative processes across institutions in the region.
Prof. Muhwezi expressed his optimism about the direction of higher education in East Africa following the conference. “We had a successful conference and annual meeting of Vice Chancellors, Higher Education Regulators, and Permanent Secretaries under the Inter-University Council of East Africa. One outstanding resolution is to urgently prepare for AI in our Universities,” he said.
The IUCEA emphasized its vision of creating a regional hub for integrated higher education and expanding digital learning. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning to develop a globally competitive and inclusive education system in East Africa.