The first graduates of the Makerere University External Degree Programme: a case study

Abstract

In 1980, efforts were made to reintroduce correspondence courses or distance education courses, as they came to be known. This was contained in the university’s plan for 1980-1986 which included starting External Degrees as one of its long term objectives (CCE, 1990). In the IACE Five Year Development Plan of 1993/94 - 1997/98, IACE sets out its objectives and one of them is to ‘...provide External Degrees to adults’ (IACE, 1993:1). The External Degree Programme (EDP) was launched in 1991 with two four year courses; Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com). Both courses are run on similar course outlines and regulations as those governing full time internal programmes. The Institute now runs these courses in collaboration with the School of Education for B.Ed; and the Faculty of Commerce for B.Com.