The 2nd Uganda Christian University Annual Research Symposium on under the Theme “Research, Innovation, Pedagogy/Teaching, and Community engagement.”
This symposium aims to foster a dialogue on research, innovation, engagement, and pedagogy, toward societal transformation. The continent faces escalating challenges including prolonged droughts, devastating floods, rising sea levels, political conflicts, xenophobia, and landscape changes that threaten food security, water availability, and livelihoods. However, it also has immense opportunities such as a youthful population, large amounts of untapped natural resources, a growing number of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, and an expanding higher education. Together, these give African scholars space to contribute to the overall theme of the symposium “Research, Innovation, Engagement and Pedagogy” and the sub-themes by exchanging knowledge, learning from practice, strengthen skills and expanding their networks.
Therefore, this symposium seeks to create a transdisciplinary platform for capacity building, and collaborative problem-solving focused on Africa's unique challenges and opportunities.
Key Sub-Themes
Health and well-being: Shall address the complete state of physical, mental, and social wellness, as defined by the World Health Organization, and not merely the absence of disease. Examples include, but are not limited to non-communicable diseases control and management like, managing high blood pressure and diabetes, nutrition for longevity, mental health; communicable diseases like HIV/AIS, tuberculosis and malaria, immunizable diseases; adolescent health, maternal and children and neonatal health; health services access and equity; social networks; preventive care; and disaster risk reduction, other health systems factors like human resources for health, health financing, health information and leadership and governance.
Business, trade, law, and economic development: Business, trade, and economic policies of a nation regulate, shape and determine economic relationships within and between nations, while law provides the institutional framework for resolving conflicts arising from these relationships. This symposium calls upon participants to examine issues including, but not limited to social entrepreneurship; the social and solidarity economy; informality and innovation; from project to a business; intellectual property; business-enabling policies; regional integration; the carbon economy; economic stimulation; climate finance; and politics, governance and economy.
Food, water and energy value-chains: The interconnections and interdependencies between food, water, and energy resources are central to sustainable development. These three systems
are deeply intertwined, where actions in one domain frequently impact the others. Participants are invited to debate issues such as vulnerability of food, water and energy value chains to climate change; resilience of smallholder and urban farmers; migration, refugees and the food, water energy nexus; and resilient cities and communities.
Technology, innovation, and sustainable communities: Technology and innovation are the engines of development and sustainable communities. The fourth industrial revolution is upon us, and while we still walk, others are running. The question is no longer whether the continent is ready for artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, but what to do with them. Participants at the symposium will debate issues such as, big data science; cybersecurity; foundations being laid across energy, education, infrastructure, business, and policy for an AI economy shaped by African priorities; technological solutions for society’s grand challenges; education and capacity building; social media, the family and sustainable communities; decolonizing the academy, innovation and sustainable communities; competence-based curriculum (CBC), pedagogy, innovation and technology.
Faith and community empowerment: Faith-based initiatives are expected to empower communities by combining spiritual guidance with practical support, advocacy, and leadership development to create lasting social and economic impact. Participants are invited to debate transformations that have taken place in the roles of the church and other faith-based organizations in the early decades of the 21st century, and how these entities have engaged with communities. Examples of topics to interrogate include, but are not limited to, prosperity gospel and community empowerment; faith, politics and governance; environmental stewardship; faith-based universities, engagement and community empowerment; faith, tradition, and community resilience; faith, technology, innovation and resilient communities.
Submission Guidelines
In not more 300 words, please submit either a prospective or a structured abstract. A prospective abstract is ideal for work in initial stages or with preliminary findings. A structured abstract is ideal for work that is completed or near completion, and should cover the following: 1) Introduction/Purpose – brief research problem, rationale or objectives; 2) Methods – summarizing the approach, design, or methodology used, 3) Results/Findings – summarizing the main outcomes or discoveries of the research; and 4) Discussion/Conclusion – highlighting the implications, significance, or potential applications of the findings.
