As part of the implementation of the Hekima University College Strategic Plan 2024-2030, the institution is exploring the possibilities of starting a bachelor’s program in Migration, Security, and Diplomacy. The principal, Rev. Dr. Marcel Uwineza, said the initiative is progressing well, with the completion of a thorough needs assessment and approvals secured from the Academic Board, HUC Council, and Board of Trustees. The principal expressed heartfelt gratitude to Rev. Prof. Elias Opongo, Rev. Dr. Jacinta Opongo, and Dr. Michael O. Owiso, along with many others who have contributed to the development.
According to HUC Registrar Dr. George Macharia, SJ, this program came out of a need because Hekima is already offering a Master’s Program in Peace Studies and International Relations, a program suited for professionals and people already in practice. However, the institution receives these students from other universities who have no background in Hekima’s education tradition, thus the need to adequately prepare them for the Master’s program and consequently a need for a related bachelor’s degree program.
“This bachelor’s degree in Migration, Security, and Diplomacy is a response to what is happening around us, so it is very contextual. If you look around us, the question of migration in this part of the continent, internally displaced people, and conflicts, this new program is a response to a critical need for the African continent,” Dr. Macharia elaborated.
He further explained that this response must be aligned with an academic program’s requirements, so HUC needed to draw a curriculum, an exercise that has since been completed. However, as usual, this curriculum has to be submitted to the Senate of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), where Hekima University College is affiliated.
“Before we submitted this program to CUEA, we had to do a needs assessment, which required that we move around asking people generally whether they find it relevant and all that, including going to universities where this program is offered to ask ourselves what is it that we are offering new? What will be special about our program?”
Once the CUEA Senate approves it, the program will be submitted again to the government, the Commission of University Education, for accreditation, a process Dr. Macharia considers long and expensive.
“Our program is unique in the sense that we already have expertise in these issues at a higher level, at a master’s level in our Peace Studies and International Relations program, but perhaps it is good really to begin mentoring students at quite a basic level, at bachelor’s level.
The HUC Principal revealed that if all goes well with the remaining key steps, HUC aims to launch this program in 2026/2027. These steps include approval by CUEA’s Senate, strengthening library resources and classroom facilities, accreditation by the Commission for University Education (CUE), and expansion of student accommodation and infrastructure.
“If you know of institutions or individuals with valuable library resources in migration, security, and diplomacy or have ideas to support this initiative, please get in touch with me or the deputy principals! Your collaboration and insights are vital,” Dr. Uwineza appealed to all HUC stakeholders and collaborators, expressing joy that the institution is making headways for another program in Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship as part of the making of Hekima University.
By Pamela Adinda, HUC Communications Coordinator