UNIVERSITY ROLES IN MEETING ASPIRATIONS FOR ICT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT By Professor Livingstone S. Luboobi Vice-Chancellor, Makerere University Kampala, Uganda

Focus issues and opportunities facing Makerere University in this area of ICT the key opportunities and challenges facing Makerere University over the next decade

1. INTRODUCTION Universities should provide a vision, strategy and an enabling environment that promotes the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in universities in particular and society in general.

KEY CHALLENGES FACING MAKERERE UNIVERSITY Infrastructure - lack of continental broadband optical network, Sufficient computing facilities Bandwidth - high cost Staff Retention - Growing and retaining ICT/ Science and Technology human capital Computer illiteracy among students and staff Restrictive regulatory framework Political Instability

KEY OPPORTUNITIES FACING MAKERERE Contributing towards a literate community (operating systems in local languages and designing user- friendly computer interfaces) Local content development Expand University Education (recruit students for online degree/diploma programmes) Telemedicine (using various forms of telecommunications / ICTs to deliver health services across a distance) University Management - faster administrative services

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTION THROUGH USE OF ICT TO THE OBJECTIVES OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Human resource development - Science and Technology human capital is a precondition for any country’s development Private-University partnerships – universities can engage in business with private sector Incubation centres - Universities have and will always serve as the best and cheapest incubation centres for many products Policy development -