Distinction’ s Highest Honor. CIU: The End of An Academic Year: June 25th, 2021

International University in Uganda. Nanyonga is also a senior faculty member at Clarke International. She teaches courses in health policy and planning as well as advanced strategic management.

Nanyonga is an advocate for children’s rights and providing leadership opportunities to health care providers. She serves on boards for Clarke Group, Narrow Road International Aid, The Nursing Now Campaign, Uganda Steering Committee, REMI East Stanford University has named Nanyonga a leadership fellow in its Women Leaders in Global Health initiative, while the Yale University School of Nursing has bestowed its Distinguished Alumna award upon her

CIU: THE END OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR: JUNE 25TH, 2021

By Dr. Rose C Nanyonga

To the CIU Family, Friends, Parents & Guardians, and Strategic Partners,

As we come to the close of this unusual academic year, I keep thinking about the Zulu phrase “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” …meaning that a person is a person through other people…I am because we are. At graduation in March this year, I was keenly aware that our being here and our ability to foster continuity of learning for those health professional graduates in the year of covid took collective effort.

In the history of Clarke International University (CIU) these last 16 months have unearthed a culture of solidarity, commitment, fortitude and resilience that I, as a team leader of this impressive community, didn’t even think was possible. Indeed, “If you want to go far, go together.” First, congratulations to our students, teaching faculty, administrators and support staff for not closing their minds when the doors to schools and universities were closed.

The successful completion of the academic years 2019- 2020-2021 has largely depended on our collective commitment, exploring potential solutions rather than naming the challenges, a willingness to try and fail and re-enter learning. Our physical doors may have been closed, but we have collectively strived to keep the doors of teaching, research and learning open.

Operating in this pandemic requires more than an ambitious vision. CIU has relied on dedicated staff as well as the willingness of students, parents, guardians and other stakeholders to ensure that the growing need of both health and ICT-enabled business professionals is met.

If we have learned anything these past 16-months, it is that when hospitals are open, health professional training schools must remain open as there is need to rapidly increase the number, quality, capacity and the health of healthcare workers. We can only do so by fostering technology-enabled teaching and learning.

As we look ahead to the new academic year 20212022, we know that the education needs of our community will continue to be met through Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) options. It is true, however, that even in the best of circumstances, and

in spite of our unwavering commitment to enhancing digital options for learning, steep costs related to eLearning infrastructure development, student and faculty factors as well as restrictive regulation can only serve to undermine some of these efforts if not consistently addressed.

We will continue to work collaboratively with the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) to ensure that enabling eLearning regulations are prioritized to enable schools to meet the education needs in uncertain and challenging times. This will also require leveraging lessons learned in the last 16 months, securing and strengthening effective partnerships that can support emerging and innovative practices in Higher Education Institutions.

And it will also require students and faculty to continue to develop and sharpen a broad range of eLearning and digital competencies that are relevant to health professional’s education.

Investments in these areas will help us enhance both student and faculty development and continue to place instruction and engagement at the core of virtual teaching and learning in the months ahead.

Finishing this year has sometimes felt like a marathon. Other times, a relay. And recently with the second lockdown, it felt as though the starter pistol went off and we (in the education sector) stayed at the start line. For a few minutes after the second closure of schools was announced, I stared blankly at the phone…wondering whether I should start running, opt for a do-nothing option, or simply have a nice meltdown. The later was quite appealing… I had to remind myself that we are a Values-Based University that inspires leadership, critical thinking, and innovation… and that our principal mission is to prepare students for global leadership and for our students to be catalysts for transformation.

Turning these words into actions that propel us forward is exactly what our staff and partners have done all year long

In addition, our students, their parents and guardians have remained steadfast but not without challenges. More than 200 of our students could not graduate in March this year due to financial challenges.

At graduation this year, I put out a call for support. The goal? To raise 20,000.00USD to support at least 40 of these health professionals to graduate.

Last Mile Scholarships In the last two weeks, existing vulnerabilities of our health system have become even more apparent with the covid-19 second wave. We simply don’t have enough providers and the sooner we place more skilled healthcare workers into the system the quicker we can alleviate the current burden on the

I want to express immense gratitude to friends of CIU who have already responded to our call for scholarships. With funds we have received so far, we have been able to support 10 nurses and midwives. An additional 10 have been awarded scholarships towards their last semester starting in August.

We are grateful to the Narrow Road International Aid who have pledged to match every dollar we receive up to a total of 7000.00USD (seven Thousand). Help us reach our goal of supporting 40 healthcare workers by the end of this year.

To support the Last Mile Scholarship Campaign please contact us directly at vc@ciu.ac.ug or rjscholarshipfund@gmail.com

In the USA: Donations can be sent to: Narrow Road International Aid http://www.narrowroadintl.org/Narrow_Road__Roses_ Journey.html

(Purpose RJSF)

In Uganda: Donations can be sent to: Clarke International University Account number: 6000164850 Bank Name: Absa Bank Uganda Limited Bank Location: Tank Hill Parade Muyenga Swift Code: BARCUGKX

Purpose (RJSF)

Thank you to all our friends and partners for every dollar

donated towards this campaign.

Getting to December 2020 We want to encourage Students, Parents, Sponsors and other stakeholders that the closure of school does not mean halting our research activities. We would like to ensure that all students who are eligible to graduate from last year graduate as scheduled in December this year. Managing your dissertation experience virtually requires intentional engagement. We encourage you to continue working with your supervisors. With all the Covid-19 restrictions and SOPs related to research conduct, the earlier you embark on this journey the more likely you will complete before the deadlines.

Beyond your supervisor we have good resources in the Research Office, The Library, the ICT Office, the Deans and Faculty Secretaries. You simply need to reach out. Whatever you have learned this year, use it, or you will lose it

Don’t Let the Dissertation Swallow You! We are a Zoom Call away

I have personally been impressed with our Covid-19 Champions who have made sure that as a community we stay alert and do our part to stop the pandemic. What we do, how we do it and why affects every graduate we send out to the frontline. As a community of healthcare providers and trainers, leading communities in this fight is our primary duty. Let’s start at home.

Trauma: Be Part of the Solution

The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the need to increase access to skilled mental health professionals. For those looking to enhance their skill set to address the mounting needs of trauma, loss and adversity in our communities, the CIU-Tutapona Certificate in Trauma and Adversity seeks to meet that need.

In collaboration with the Tutapona Institute, we are offering a short online Certificate Course in Trauma and Adversity Intervention. The program is designed to equip and empower leaders to better engage with mental health needs in their communities

In Loving Memory

We remember all our colleagues who are sick or are mourning the loss of a loved one. We hope you have moments to rest. Strength to get up. Courage to face a new day. And Hope—you are not alone.

LEAD . INNOVATE . TRANSFORM