By Isaac Akugizibwe
The highly successful landmark 2nd International Research and Development Conference [IRDeC] organised by Kampala International University [KIU] from 14th October to 18th October 2024 at the Main Campus in Kansanga has been wrapped up today with a commitment by esteemed scholars, policymakers, and industry experts to embrace an interdisciplinary approach to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges.
The four-day conference themed ‘’ Partnership for Sustainable Development: Bridging Disciplines, Solving Complex African Challenges featured keynote speeches led by an internationally recognised expert, paper presentations from various scholars, and panel discussions on Africa’s most pressing yet complex issues.
Participants looked to emphasise the need for academics, policymakers, and practitioners to transcend disciplinary silos and work together to address the continent’s complex issues.
‘’Africa continues to struggle with challenges such as poverty, climate change, and health care disparities, and these issues cannot be solved by one discipline. So, we intend to forge a mechanism where scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders can develop innovative and context-specific solutions, and this will be one of our key points of discussion during the conference,’’ said Professor Israel Obaroh, the chairperson of the conference’s organising committee.
Prof. Obaroh, who also serves as the Director of the Directorate of Research and Higher Degrees (DHDR) at KIU, added that interdisciplinary research allows us to consider the social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions of a problem. This holistic approach enables us to develop more effective, sustainable solutions.’’
The areas that require interdisciplinary collaboration in Africa include climate change and sustainable development, healthcare access and delivery, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, education and skills development, as well as governance.
Ms Christine Ainebyoona, the Campus Administration of Kampala International University, thanked all participants for making it to the conference. She stressed that such gatherings of brilliant minds open up channels for African countries to work together to solve common challenges facing the content.
“We are thankful that we have had a successful conference. I thank the Chairman Board of Trustees, for funding the conference and the Vice Chancellor for his guidance during the preparation up to this day,” Ms. Ainebyoona said.
As Africa continues to navigate complex challenges, the second international Research and Development Conference serve as a timely reminder of the power of collective problem solving.
