With support from the NORPART Mobility Grant (No. 2021/10358 - HePed), Makerere University hosted a delegation from the University of Bergen, Norway, from 26 October to 4 November 2024. The visiting team comprised Professor Kenan Dikilitaş, Associate Professor Monika Kvernenes, and PhD candidate Anna Kleppe Moe. The visit formed part of the ongoing collaboration under the Health Professions Education (HePed) partnership, which aims to strengthen capacity in health professions education through academic exchange, research collaboration, and joint training initiatives.
During the visit, the Norwegian delegation engaged with a wide range of academic and administrative leaders across Makerere University, including representatives from the College of Health Sciences and the wider university community. The programme provided an opportunity for constructive discussions on advancing health professions education and strengthening institutional partnerships between the two universities.
The visitors participated in several key academic activities. These included presentations to students enrolled in the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) programme, a PhD support session for HePed doctoral fellows, participation in the MHPE Journal Club, and attendance at the PhD defence of a HePed doctoral student. These interactions provided valuable opportunities for scholarly exchange, mentorship, and strengthening academic networks among students and faculty.
Beyond the university setting, the team visited Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, where they gained insights into Uganda's health service delivery and medical education environment. They also spent time with University of Bergen medical students currently undertaking their international global health placement in Uganda, providing an opportunity to discuss student mobility experiences and international learning opportunities.
The visit also included cultural and recreational activities aimed at showcasing Uganda's rich heritage and natural beauty. The delegation attended a cultural evening at the Ndere Cultural Centre and visited Lake Mburo National Park, experiences that facilitated intercultural exchange and strengthened relationships among project partners.
One of the major outcomes of the visit was the agreement on several priority activities to be jointly pursued by the Ugandan and Norwegian teams. These include the development of a dedicated platform to showcase HePed activities, the co-development of a PhD supervisors' training course, and the identification of candidates for master's-level training in global health-related education programmes in Norway. In addition, the University of Bergen team committed to exploring opportunities for securing additional European funding to support the long-term sustainability and expansion of the collaboration.
The visit concluded with a meeting between the visiting team and Dr Ronald Ssenyonga. During the meeting, the delegation provided an update on the achievements of the visit, reviewed agreed action points, and outlined the next steps for implementing the planned activities in the months ahead.
The visit reaffirmed the strong partnership between Makerere University and the University of Bergen and demonstrated the value of international collaboration in advancing health professions education, research capacity, and academic development.
