The East African Development Bank (EADB) held a farewell event for Miriam Kabagorobya, a lecturer with Busiitema University in Uganda, who will be proceeding for studies at the Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
Ms. Kabagorobya will undertake a Masters in Mathematics Education course for a period of one year and will be looking forward to implement her acquired knowledge when she returns.
Scholarships are awarded to experienced East African teachers and lecturers with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, who are actively teaching in an East African public university.
The scholars are selected from nearly 300 applicants from the East African countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who compete for a few slots.
Speaking at the event held at Sheraton Hotel, Vivienne Yeda, Director General of the East African Development Bank said the Bank created the EADB Math, Science, Technology and Engineering University Scholarship Program, in partnership with The Africa-America Institute, for experienced teachers and lecturers to earn a post-graduate degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology in the United States.
“This scholarship program will go a long way in helping to increase the number of qualified academics in the STEM fields and strengthen the workforce in the science, engineering and technology in Uganda and East Africa.
“The EADB and AAI warmly congratulate Ms. Miriam as she has successfully navigated a long and challenging application process,” Ms. Yeda added.
Speaking at her farewell lunch, Ms. Kabagorobya said: “I am grateful for East Africa Development Bank and I will use this opportunity to acquire more skills that will later help me educate the people in my university. I plan on coming back home and working with education institutions to develop the study of mathematics in school.”
The EADB scholarship aims to maximize the impact of EADB’s investment into the higher education sector by granting scholarships to accomplished lecturers who have agreed to return to their East African universities and continue teaching after they have received their graduate degree at Rutgers University.
The fully-funded EADB graduate level scholarships will provide full tuition, room and living expenses within a stipulated budget.
