With support from the NORPART Mobility Grant (No. 2021/10358, HePed), a delegation from Makerere University travelled to the University of Bergen, Norway, to participate in the prestigious Holberg Conference and a series of strategic collaboration meetings aimed at strengthening the long-standing partnership between the two institutions. The delegation included the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Makerere-Bergen Coordinator Dr Ronald Semyalo, Professor Sarah Kiguli, Associate Professor Mark Kaddu Mukasa, Dr Roy Mubuuke, and Dr Ian Munabi.
The visit provided a unique platform for academic exchange, networking, and strategic discussions focused on advancing health professions education, research collaboration, and institutional partnerships. Alongside participation in the conference programme, members of the delegation engaged in a number of focused side meetings with colleagues from various departments and research units at the University of Bergen. These interactions explored opportunities for collaborative teaching, research, student and staff mobility, and capacity-building initiatives between the two institutions.
As part of the delegation, Dr Ian Munabi participated in several networking and partnership meetings that brought together academics and educational leaders from diverse disciplines. Discussions centred on innovative approaches to strengthening health professions education and expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. One particularly significant outcome of these engagements was the introduction to Associate Professor Monika Kvernenes, Head of the Centre for Medical Education within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bergen. Initial conversations identified several areas of mutual interest and laid the foundation for future collaboration in medical and health professions education.
The visit also provided an opportunity to engage with Professor Kenan Dikilitaş from the Department of Education, who had recently assumed a leadership role within the collaborative project. Productive discussions with Professor Dikilitaş focused on strengthening academic links between the partner institutions and identifying practical steps to support project implementation. These conversations culminated in plans for a familiarisation visit to Makerere University in November 2024, enabling colleagues from Bergen to gain a deeper understanding of Makerere's educational context, institutional priorities, and areas for future cooperation.
Overall, the Holberg Conference and associated NORPART collaboration meetings significantly advanced the objectives of the Makerere-Bergen partnership. The visit strengthened existing relationships, established new academic connections, and provided clarity on strategic priorities for the next phase of collaboration. The engagements reinforced a shared commitment to enhancing the quality of health professions education through international partnerships, collaborative research, and mutually beneficial staff and student exchanges. The outcomes of the visit continue to inform ongoing joint activities under the NORPART programme and contribute to the broader goal of building sustainable academic partnerships between Makerere University and the University of Bergen.
