UNBS to promote quality standards in institutions of higher learning

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono to promote standardisation and quality assurance in institutions of higher learning.

According to the executive director of UNBS, David Livingstone Ebiru, the bureau intends to promote quality culture by mainstreaming quality standards in education curricula of institutions of higher learning, especially universities and tertiary institutions.

Ebiru said students are the future innovators, industrialists and entrepreneurs who must appreciate the importance of quality standards as a tool for competition and market access of products, given that the global focus of consumers is the demand for safe and quality products.

The UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, pledged full support to ensure the objectives of the collaboration are met.

"We are ready to work with UNBS in developing standardisation curricula, training in short courses, research, and internship opportunities for our students to ensure that the standards of this country are upheld," said Mushengyezi.

The focus of the MoU among others includes; undertaking research to support development of standardisation, participation in technical committees involved in writing standards, administration of course units in quality standards to students.

It will also focus on mentorship and attachment of students to UNBS quality infrastructure, joint implementation of projects to support standardisation work and participation in awareness and sensitisation activities to promote quality standards.

Officials said  the agreement is one of the many collaborations and partnerships the bureau has to promote the uptake of quality standards in everyday life in order to increase the competitiveness of Ugandan goods and services both locally and internationally.