KIU Takes Front Seat in Competence‑Based Education and Training Transition

KIU, Main Campus - Competence‑Based Education and Training (CBET) is reshaping Higher Education in Uganda, and on Thursday, 15th May, 2026, Kampala International University (KIU) portrayed her proactivity by hosting the NCHE Regional Capacity‑Building Workshop at the Main Campus. The workshop highlighted KIU’s leadership in enabling this transition by shaping curricula that prepare graduates to thrive in real‑world work settings, drive innovation, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

This transition follows a 2025 directive by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, requiring all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to align academic programmes intended for first‑year student intake in the 2027/2028 academic year to competence‑based learning. Institutions failing to comply will not be permitted to admit first‑year students.

In response, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) developed Minimum Standards for Implementing CBET in HEIs. After a consultative process including draft standards shared with institutions on 3rd December, 2025 and a validation workshop at Makerere University on 23rd January, 2026, the NCHE Council approved the Minimum Standards on 13th February, 2026.

The Standards cover:

1. Curriculum
2. Teaching & Learning Approaches
3. Assessment
4. Staff Training & Support
5. Student Support Services
6. Industry & Community Linkages
7. Monitoring & Evaluation
8. Quality Assurance

At the KIU workshop, the revised Template for Competence‑Based Academic Programmes was presented.

Prof. Muhammed Ngoma, Vice Chancellor KIU, welcomed NCHE and institutions from across the central region, noting: “The training will strategically change the way of teaching, and the way we interact with industry and the community.” He further revealed KIU’s innovation: “To show the direction we are taking towards CBET, we have developed the KIU CBET app. This app has helped us to align and realign our curriculum to CBET.”

Nora Mulira, Director ICT, Research & Innovation – NCHE, emphasized that the workshop comes at a critical time as higher education systems undergo transformation, highlighting the demand for graduates who combine theoretical knowledge with practical competence, adaptability, and innovation.

Dr. Kigenyi Erisa Mazaki stressed the paradigm shift: from content coverage to competencies and graduate capabilities. He explained: “We must look at assessment that focuses on performance and competence demonstration. Not only recalling, but how you apply what you have studied… What can this graduate do? Which problems can they solve? Which critical thinking do they have?”

Dr. Hussein Ssemambo Kakembo, Senior Higher Education Officer – NCHE, reinforced that CBET is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry, making education “more relevant, personalised and outcomes‑driven.”

With KIU taking the lead, Uganda’s higher education sector is firmly on the path toward a future where graduates are not only knowledgeable but also competent, innovative, and industry‑ready.