NYAGATARE - Umutara Polytechnic University plans to introduce two new faculties that will start offering diplomas in the 2010 academic year. The university’s Vice Rector in charge of academics, Dr. Eugene Ndabaga said the faculty of Technology has already been approved while that of Communication and Media Studies is yet to be approved by the Ministry of Education. Dr Ndabaga noted that the new Faculty of Technology will boost the institutions efforts to develop applied sciences. “Due to limited resources, we shall be offering diplomas in fields like building and construction and even surveying and later on we shall begin offering degrees,” he said. “We want our students to first get diplomas where by 60 percent of the courses will be practical skills and later on a student will go for a one or two years degree to add on more theory and practical skills.” According to the Vice Rector students will be in a better position to fill the practical manpower gaps in the country. Upon commencement , Ndabaga suggested that the new school of communication and media studies will produce more competitive journalists in the country. “You know we are a polytechnic. We want a hands on approach on our studies…we want to impart skills to students such as marketing communication, public relations as well as graphic design . So the course will be based on communication but with a practical kind of approach,” he said. Since its inception in 2006, Umutara Polytechnic University currently has faculties of Agriculture, Commerce and applied economics, ICT and Veterinary Medicine. Ends
