By Prisca Adaeze Nenger

In a bid to continue to explore the heights through practicalization, Kampala International University (KIU) has entered into a three-year collaboration on academic and professional cooperation with Songea Satom Uganda, a subsidiary of Vinci Construction Company, Paris, France, on Monday, 1st October, 2018.

As part of its University Relations Policy, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signifies a statement of intent by Sogea Satom Uganda (Vinci Construction) to consolidate and develop partnerships with targeted Engineering Universities in order to meet its recruitment needs; looking at the future of engineering students in Uganda, of which KIU have been found worthy of.

Both parties have therefore agreed to put in place partnership agreement in the academic and professional areas of mutual interest, on the basis of equal opportunities and are part of an anti-discrimination approach, with the following in view:

• Enabling Songea Satom Uganda to make its activities, its practices, its corporate culture and the specific techniques of the construction sector known to the students of Kampala international university.
• Enabling the university to reinforce its cooperation with the Professional world both in order to develop the practical knowledge of future graduates, and to give them the experience of lifelong learning.

The partnership agreement, which kicked-off with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both parties, is meant to last from 1^st October, 2018 – 30^th September, 2021. The MoU was signed and witnessed by the Vice Chancellor of KIU, Dr. Mpezamihigo Mouhamad, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Innovation and Extension cum Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Prof. George Nasinyama and the Associate Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) KIU, Mr Mundu Mustafa, together with representatives from Sogea Satom Uganda, Mr Akol Deograceous, the Human Resource Manager, and Mr Ogwal Tony, the Senior Human Resource Officer.

As a result of this collaboration, there will be openings for paid internship opportunities, as well as exchange programmes for continuing students, and job opportunities for Graduate Trainee Engineers from KIU.

It is pertinent to note that this collaboration comes in handy just after an alleged news report on Degrees from KIU, looking at the state of Engineering Department. Currently, one of KIU’s graduate student from the School Of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Ms. Sania Nalubanga works with Sogea Satom as a Deputy Civil Works Engineer, and has been doing well on the job, the Human Resource Manager, Mr Akol stated categorically during the meeting.

On behalf of the management of KIU, the Vice Chancellor appreciated Sogea Satom Uganda, together with the initiator of the project Mr Mundu of the School Of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), for such a great opportunity.