Kabale University has taken a significant step toward strengthening climate-responsive education with the successful conduct of a two-day training workshop on the Competence-Based Review of the MSc Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Curriculum. The workshop was held at Cephas Inn, Kabale, from 4th to 5th August 2025, under the Strengthening Smallholder Farmer Resilience to Climate Change (SFR2CC) Project, with support from the Water and Development Partnership Programme (Netherlands).
The training brought together academic staff from the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with the aim of enhancing their capacity in Competence-Based Education (CBE). The CBE approach emphasizes practical skills, measurable learning outcomes, and learner-centered assessment, ensuring that graduates are well equipped to respond to real-world environmental and climate challenges. Through a blend of theory and practice, participants actively applied CBE principles to the ongoing review of the MSc ENR programme.
Responding to Environmental and Community Challenges
The Kigezi Highlands, a critical ecological zone that supports major water systems, food production, and biodiversity in Uganda, continues to face escalating environmental threats including deforestation, soil erosion, and wetland degradation. These challenges disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, who depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods.
Through the SFR2CC Project, Kabale University is strengthening the connection between higher education, climate action, and community resilience. The review of the MSc ENR curriculum is designed to ensure that graduates acquire practical, market-relevant, and community-responsive skills that support sustainable development and climate adaptation.
Key Objectives of the Training
The workshop was guided by clear objectives aimed at transforming academic practice and curriculum delivery. These included:
- Strengthening staff capacity in the philosophy and application of Competence-Based Education
- Translating programme goals into measurable competencies and learning outcomes
- Aligning teaching and assessment strategies with CBE principles
- Advancing the review process of the MSc ENR curriculum through hands-on application
These objectives align closely with the Education and Training component of the SFR2CC Project, which seeks to make university programmes more responsive to the evolving needs of communities and the labour market.
Expert Facilitation and Participatory Learning
The workshop was facilitated by a multidisciplinary team of experts who guided participants through interactive and practical learning sessions. The facilitation team included:
- Mr. Alex Saturday – SFR2CC Kigezi Team Leader
- Dr. Jennifer Turyatemba – Session Chair
- Ms. Susan Kangume – SFR2CC Project Overview
- Dr. Joseph Ssekandi – Curriculum Review Process
- Dr. Florence Kirabo Nampijja – Lead Facilitator, CBE
- Mr. Simon Byamukama – Rapporteur
The sessions adopted a highly participatory approach, integrating presentations, plenary discussions, breakout group work, and peer-review exercises. Academic staff worked collaboratively to translate programme objectives into competencies and align individual course units with CBE standards.
Alignment with National and Global Development Priorities
The training supports a wide range of institutional, national, and global priorities, including:
- The Water and Development Partnership Programme’s donor objectives
- Kabale University’s strategic vision in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement
- Uganda’s National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) priorities on higher education skilling
- The Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)
This strong alignment reinforces the relevance of the revised MSc ENR programme in addressing both academic and societal needs.
Lessons Learned and the Way Forward
While the workshop achieved its core objectives, participants highlighted the need for:
- Extended time to enable comprehensive revision of all course units
- Additional orientation sessions for staff who are new to Competence-Based Education
- Provision of pre-reading materials ahead of future workshops
The next phase of the process will focus on refining the draft modules, conducting faculty-level reviews, and submitting the curriculum for Senate and National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) approval. Continuous professional development in Competence-Based Education will also be undertaken to ensure sustained quality in teaching and learning.