Muteesa I Royal University hosted the 2nd international summer school in Uganda (ISSU-2) on Survey Methodology and Data Management at its main campus in Kirumba – Masaka. The Summer School was funded by the VW Foundation and jointly organized by GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany, and Muteesa I Royal University, Uganda.
The Summer School is under the ‘Knowledge for tomorrow’ project funded by VW Foundation aimed at capacity building and exchange for survey methodology and data management in Uganda. It also aims at developing local competences for data generation and effective data management for the social sciences and related disciplines such as education and health in East Africa and neighbouring countries. Survey data do not only enable scientists to investigate social phenomena, but also provide an important source of information for the state, business and civil society.
Furthermore, the Summer School provides a platform for researchers and practitioners from East Africa, Germany and neighbouring countries to share data and conduct data-based research. It also enables them to acquire the necessary skills to conduct survey-based research projects. These competencies include study design, data analysis and data archiving for secondary use and replication.
The ISSU-2 attracted 60 researchers from multidisciplinary fields including academia, business, civil society and government institutions, representating 35 institutions from Albania, Germany, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, USA, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The participants were hosted at Muteesa I Royal University for a two-weeks training workshop in survey methodology and data management. The Summer School also provided an opportunity to network and apply newly acquired knowledge in practice. Participants received training from both local and internationally renown lecturers in the following courses per week:
Week 1
Week 2
In the first week, two courses were on the programme. The course ‘Research Data Management’ was led by Ms. Mahadia Tanga and Ms. Somoe Mkwachu (Dar es salaam University), and Mr. David Amwonya (Kyambogo University). The workshop enabled participants to ensure that their research data is reusable and can be shared securely with others – both for the purpose of research replication and for reuse in new contexts.
The parallel course ‘Introduction to Survey Design’ led by Dr. Sonila Dardha (City, University of London) and Mr. Andrew Adrian Mukiibi (Afrobarometer) focused on large surveys of public opinion among the general population.
The eventful first week ended with a panel discussion on the theme “the role of Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) in framing research for the Sustainability of Research Data Management and Survey Methods training”. A keynote presentation was made by Mr. Steven Ssebbale, the Assistant Executive Secretary of UNCST. Pursuant discussions from Dr. Juliet Kyayesiimira (Managing Director, Network for Education and Multidisciplinary Research Africa, NEMRA), and Dr. Peter Kibe (African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC) ensued. A social networking evening closed proceedings of the week.
The course ‘Cross-Cultural Survey Research’ led by Prof. Dr. Christof Wolf (President of GESIS), Mr. Henning Silber (Gesis) and Mr. Robert Ssentamu (Wilsken Agencies Ltd) provided an overview of data sources and other resources for cross-cultural survey research. Prof. Dr. Wolf also gave an evening talk on the role of Gesis in promoting research, capacity building and data management. This was followed by Prof. Jude Lubega (Vice Chancellor, Nkumba University who highlighted how e-learning adequately responded to shocks created by COVID-19 in the education sector.