Bunyoro University Delegation Visits UGBS for Benchmarking Exercise
The University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) hosted a delegation from Bunyoro University, Uganda, for a benchmarking exercise on 22nd July 2025. The visit took place at the UGBS New Conference Room and aimed to gain insights from UGBS’s extensive experience in academic programmes, administrative structures, and institutional development to support the growth of Bunyoro University, a newly established public university in Uganda. The Ugandan delegation included Prof. Samuel Kyamanywa, Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Grace B. Kyamuhendo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs; Dr. Tusiime Stephen Asiimwe; Mr. Elisha Obella; Ms. Deborah Apoya; and Mr. Henry Semakula from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda.
In his welcome address, Prof. Ernest Tweneboah Koduah, Head of the Department of Marketing at UGBS, introduced the visitors to the academic and administrative landscape of UGBS. He outlined the structure of the school, including its departments, programme offerings across various levels, internal resource mobilisation strategies, and time schedules. He also highlighted UGBS's approach to promotions, faculty evaluations, and the role of continuous assessment in maintaining academic excellence.
Of particular interest to the delegation were key areas such as curriculum design, community engagement, resource mobilisation, and academic programmes in information systems, entrepreneurship, and engineering-related fields. Prof. Kyamanywa indicated that the visit was part of their efforts to gather best practices and innovative models to support the development of Bunyoro University. He noted that Uganda currently has 11 public universities, and there is a need for new institutions like theirs to learn from experienced institutions such as UGBS. “We are here to pick good ideas that will help us run our new university better. We are interested in educational models, entrepreneurship, academic programmes, and talent management. We want to learn how to build strong academic and administrative systems,” he said.
The delegation was taken through the UGBS curriculum structure, including University-required, College-required, and UGBS-specific courses. They were also briefed on the various teaching modes, examination processes, and publication standards. Additionally, they discussed the school's approaches to competency-based education, accreditation processes, and industry collaborations. A key highlight of the visit was a presentation on the UGBS Nest, which is an innovation and entrepreneurship hub of the school. Prof. Tweneboah Koduah explained that the UGBS Nest nurtures student ideas into viable products and services, contributing to job creation and entrepreneurship development.
Prof. Justice Nyigmah Bawole, Dean of UGBS, elaborated on the school’s dedication to community and alumni involvement. He highlighted that the UGBS Nest functions as a vital hub for these initiatives, supporting students with entrepreneurial aspirations through pitch competitions, grant funding, and skill-enhancement boot camps. “At UGBS, we deliberately equip students with relevant skills to boost their employability. Our alumni are well established in various sectors and play an important role in mentoring and providing internship opportunities to our current students,” he explained.
Discussions also touched on how UGBS tracks and engages its alumni, the integration of business leaders and corporate executives as mentors or executives-in-residence, and ethical standards among faculty and students. The visit concluded with an open Question-and-Answer session, during which the Ugandan team inquired further into areas such as internship placements, industry-required competencies, lecturer adjustments, and strategies for ensuring quality and relevance in academic delivery.