Kampala International University has become a popular centre for higher education, especially for foreign scholars, reports Timothy Makokha
Background
Kampala International University (KIU), commenced operation as a private university in October 2001. The university currently runs on a provisional licence. It has many foreign students including those from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan.
Location
KIU is located in Kansanga, a rapidly growing suburb of Kampala. The university is only 3km from Kampala city centre and 2km from the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest fresh water lake in the world.
Top
Legal status
The University currently has a provisional operating licence. It sits on 20 acres of land.
Top
Accommodation
Students stay in hostels outside the campus. The owners of these hostels are directly answerable to the university and their accommodation facilities must meet the set university standards.
Meals: Canteens within the university serve a variety of inexpensive meals. A Students’ Union canteen also exists.
However, students are free to make private eating arrangements with various catering services in the neighbourhood.
Medical services: It operates a 24-hour clinic on the campus to cater for minor or emergency health problems of staff and students. There is always a standby ambulance in case of any serious cases, which are referred to Kibuli Hospital.
KIU FM (107.5): The university operates a radio station at the main campus. The station was established in 2004 to offer hands-on-experience to students taking Mass Communication. Facilities to enable broadcasting in Central, Western and Eastern Uganda have been installed.
Top
Current enrollment
It is home to 3,000 students with a majority of them coming from Kenya.
Top Infrastructure
There are 30 lecture rooms with a sitting capacity of 45 students each. There is also a library with a sitting capacity of 200 students.
Top
Library
The university also has a library with a capacity of 200 students.
Top
Fees Structure
Bachelor of Arts — sh825,000 to sh982,800
BA Education in-service — sh310,000
Diplomas — sh350,000 to 440,000
Diploma in Primary Education — sh140,000
Fees are charged per semester for day, evening and weekend programmes
Top
Programmes
The university offers both undergraduate and graduate programmes on full-time as well as part-time basis during the day, evening and weekend. All KIU programmes are conducted on a semester basis except the Access Program, Health Science, in-service education courses and the MBA, which follow separate schedules.
The university has four Schools and three faculties. They include the School of Postgraduate Studies, the School of Computer Studies, the School of Business and Management and the School of Health Sciences based at the Western Campus in Ishaka. Faculties include Education, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law.
Courses
-Education (Arts and Sciences)
-Computer Science with Education
-Social Sciences
-Social Work and Social Administration
-Mass Communication
-Public Administration
-Development Studies
-Environmental Management Laws
Diplomas:
-Environmental Management
-Development
-Clinical Medicine and Community Health
-Business Studies/Administration
-Tourism, Catering and Hotel Management
-Computer Science and IT
-Primary and Secondary Education
Post Graduate:
-Masters of Education Administration and Management
-Post Graduate Diploma in Applied statistics
-Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Computer Science
Access Programme: This is a pre-college programme to assist students whose native programmes may differ from Uganda’s secondary system. The programme prepares students for regular admission to Kampala International University.
Sports and scholarships: Sporting disciplines at KIU include chess, scrabble, pool table, table tennis, Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, boxing, soccer, basketball, volleyball, netball, handball, squash, lawn tennis, swimming, athletics and field events, hockey and darts.
KIU also awards scholarships to students who excel in sports. Since its inception, the award has boosted sportsmanship at the university.
Cultural Gala: The university holds an annual cultural gala. On this occasion, there is a competitive display of cultural activities; traditional dress, cuisine, songs and dances by a variety of cultural groups that students represent at the university.
Counselling services: KIU counselling department was established in March 2004 to enable members of KIU community access professional counselling services. A number of important and relevant topics are handled in this department. These include relationships, substance abuse, peer pressure, pornography, unwanted pregnancies/abortion, academic issues and career guidance.
Transport: A bus, two coasters, two omnibuses are in place to facilitate the various student movement. At the same time, the University has an ambulance to take sick students to hospital. At the Western Campus, there are two mini buses.
These vehicles are used for transporting the students to the various health centres and hospitals during their practicum. The instructors visit similar venues to supervise and monitor student activities. In other instances, the vehicles are used to transport students and staff to various places for sports activities.
Top
Avenues of entry
Degree courses
- O’Level certificate, two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at A’Level
Diploma courses
An A’Level Certificate with a principal pass
Top
Administration
Prof. George Kanyeihamba – Chancellor
Prof. Muhamad Ndawula – Vice Chancellor
Prof. Tarsis Kabwegere Haji
– Chairman.
Kampala International
Address:
Kampala International University.
P.O Box: 20000, Kampala Uganda.
Tel: 256-(0)41-266813.
admin@kiu.ac.ug |
