By Andrew Bugembe

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Insurance Training College (ITC), marking a significant step towards strengthening collaboration between academia and the insurance and financial services sector.

The agreement, signed at UCU’s main campus in Mukono, aims to promote joint academic programmes, research, innovation, and industry engagement to better prepare students for the evolving job market.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi described the partnership as timely and strategic, noting that it provides a clear roadmap for practical training, research, and professional development.

“This MOU outlines important milestones the two institutions would like to achieve, covering training, research, and other engagements,” he said. “We want our students to gain hands-on experience and be ready for the job market. Work readiness is no longer optional — it must be intentionally built through strong partnerships like this.”

Prof. Mushengyezi emphasised the growing importance of university-industry collaboration, particularly in equipping students with practical skills beyond classroom learning. He noted that while internships remain important, institutions must go further in creating opportunities for real-world exposure through innovation, project-based learning, and direct engagement with industry players.

He also highlighted the global relevance and growth potential of the insurance sector, expressing confidence that the collaboration would open new opportunities for students and staff at both institutions.

“This is a very exciting partnership, especially for our School of Business. The insurance industry is one of the largest globally and continues to grow. There is a lot we can achieve together,” he added.

The Dean of the School of Business, Henry Mugisha, underscored the importance of academic exchange, joint research, and industry-based learning in enhancing the quality of education. He noted that the partnership would promote cross-fertilisation of ideas, joint supervision of postgraduate research, and increased student exposure to industry practices.

“We are moving towards competence-based education, which requires taking students beyond classrooms and into the field. This collaboration will strengthen that approach by integrating real-world experience into academic training,” he said.

For his part, ITC Chief Executive and Principal Saul Sseremba described the agreement as a major milestone in advancing professionalism and capacity within the insurance and broader financial services sector.

“We are very keen to ensure that this MOU does not remain on paper but is fully operationalised,” Sseremba said. “We have put in place mechanisms to monitor implementation and ensure both institutions derive value from this partnership.”

He noted that ITC is expanding its focus beyond insurance to the wider financial services industry — including pensions and capital markets — and sees the partnership as key to building a skilled and trusted workforce.

Sseremba also highlighted the need to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry practice, pointing out that many professionals — including lawyers and doctors — often lack a specialised understanding of insurance despite its relevance to their fields.

“This collaboration will help students appreciate career opportunities in insurance and financial services early enough and prepare them accordingly,” he said.

The MOU outlines several areas of collaboration, including joint research, co-teaching, curriculum development, student and staff exchange, innovation hubs, and joint resource mobilisation. Both institutions also plan to work together on conferences, seminars, and policy engagement initiatives.