Prof. Gaspard Calls for Collective Efforts to Achieve a Common Higher Education in East African Region 

By Sadique Bamwita 

Kampala 

The Minister of Education and Scientific Research in Burundi as well as the Executive Secretary for Inter-University Council for East Africa, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, has called for collective efforts to achieve a common Higher Education area among the partner states within the East African Community region -Uganda inclusive. He sounded the call during the first Ministerial conference on Higher Education held in Kampala on September 12,2025.

Speaking to the press in Kampala, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona noted that it has taken stocks of the major milestone to achieve a common Higher Education area by reflecting on the gains and challenges in addition to member states positioning themselves for the future innovations and forces that have shaped and continue to shape the higher education landscape in the East African region. 

The permanent secretary Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Kedrace Turyagenda , reaffirmed government’s unwavering commitment to the full operationalization of East African common Higher Education as a mechanism to strengthen academic excellence, facilitate knowledge mobility and serve as the engine for deepening regional integration, socio economic transformation and global competitiveness of the East African region.

Dr. Kedrace Turyagenda on behalf of the government of Uganda pledged:

” We resolve to align the respective national higher education systems with regional higher education framework requirements without imposing uniformity.  We commit to enhance mutual recognition and professional qualifications development of relevant regional frameworks for mutual recognition of academic qualifications to promote seamless mobility of students, staff and professionals across the region in line with East African Community Common market protocol 2027.

” We resolve to harmonize national higher education policies through legislations and regulatory frameworks including accreditation frameworks in East African Community regional instruments.

‘ We pledge to promote the integration and regulation of digital open and branded learning systems including cross border E- learning platforms and virtual exchange programs to widen access, improve quality and learning outcomes on top of enhancing resilience against disruptions in delivery of higher education.

‘ We commit to mobilize sustainable financing for higher education through national and regional resourcing pool mechanisms, develop cooperations, commercialization of research and private sector engagements. we commit to empower the East African region through the Inter University Council of East Africa to work with the commissions and councils of higher education to develop mechanisms to monitor, report on alignment of institutional frameworks with regional frameworks.

Dr. Kedrace Turyagenda gave directives to stakeholders and among them include; ” Inter University Council of East Africa in collaboration with the forum of Chief Executive Officers and councils of higher education to develop and disseminate detailed guidelines to assist higher education institutions in integrating East African regional framework into their own institutional policies and a academic programs.

‘ Partner states are requested to expedite the removal of visa fees charged on students, and other professionals from the East African community partner states so as to promote regional mobility and councils of higher education to ensure higher education institutions oversee institutional alignment of education systems with regional framework area, ” Dr. Turyagenda gave directives to stakeholders.’