Jessica Norah Aguti

Professor
Jessica
Norah
Aguti
Ph.D. Curriculum and Instructional Design & Development, University of Pretoria
Professor
Nagongera
Office Hours
Week days 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.
jnaguti@gmail.com
Dr. Jessica Norah Aguti
Attach CV
Prof. Jesca's C.V
Biography

Jessica Norah Aguti is a Professor of Open, Distance & e learning at the Faculty of Science & Education, Busitema University.  She was formerly a Director Institute of Open, Distance & e Learning, Makerere University and worked at the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Vancouver as an Education Specialist, Teacher Education for three years.  Aguti joined the academia in 1990 as a lecturer in the nascent Distance Education Unit.  Over the years, Prof Aguti has actively participated in the growth and development of open, distance and e learning (ODeL) in universities, Uganda and in the region.  She has vast experience in designing programmes, training academics in developing learning materials and providing learner support.  Prof Aguti has also been involved in various researches and in the evaluation of different programmes; and is a believer in the democratization of education and the role of ODeL in the achievement of this democratization.

Research Projects

Current Projects:

July 2022 to date Team Leader Determining Quality of Courses in The Busitema University Online Learning Environment (BUOLE) Busitema University Research and Innovation Fund (BURIF) Award
September 2022 to date Team Member Developing a Strategy for Optimization of learning Outcomes on the Busitema University Online Learning Environment (BUOLE) Busitema University Research and Innovation Fund (BURIF) Award
September 2021 to date Team member Comprehensive Evaluation of Blended Learning Uptake at Makerere University (CEBL) Government of Uganda Grant to Makerere University Research & Innovations Fund (RIF)

Publications and Papers

 

Books and Book Chapters

  1. Aguti, J. N., Nabaho, L., & Turyasingura, W. (2021). Quality assurance in open and distance education in Uganda: Practices and policies at the Uganda Management Institute. In Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Eastern and Southern Africa (pp. 36-45). Routledge.
  2. Aguti J.N. (2016) “Teacher Education in Uganda: Policy and Practice” in B. Moon (Ed) Do Universities have a role in the Education and Training of Teachers? An international analysis of policy and practice. (pp 231 – 249).  Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press.
  3. Aguti, J.N. (2009) “University Education for National Development: Makerere University’s Dual Mode Experience” in Marshall S., Kinuthia W. and Taylor W. (Eds) Bridging the knowledge divide: Educational technology for development. (pp 215 – 229).    Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. 
  4. Olal Odur F. & Aguti J.N. (August 2007) “Teacher Capacity Building Through Distance Education” in Lakshmi T.K.S., Rama K. & Hendrikz J. (Eds) An Anthology of “Best Practices” in Teacher Education.  (pp 152 – 159).  Bangalore & Vancouver: National Assessment and Accreditation Council in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning.
  5. Muwanga N.K., Aguti J.N., Mugisha J.F., Ndidde A.N., & Siminyu S.N. (2007) Literacy Practices in Primary Schools in Uganda: Lessons for Future Interventions.  Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
  6. Aguti, J.N.  (2003) “Distance Education and Open Learning” In Okech A. (Ed) Adult Education in Uganda   (pp 146 – 177).  Kampala: Fountain Publishers.  .
  7. Aguti, J.N.  (2000) “Makerere University Uganda”, Reddy, V. & Manjulika, S. (eds), The World of Open and Distance Learning.  (pp 255 - 280).  New Delhi: Viva Books Private Limited.
  8. Aguti, J.N.  (1997) Makerere University’ A Case Study In Planning and Management of Distance Education.  Trainers Kit Pilot Version April 1997 COL & IEC

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. Lubega F.X, Musoke Genza, G & Aguti, J.N. (2022). School-level Teacher Reward Practices and Quality of Students’ Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools in Masaka District, Uganda American Journal of Educational Research. 2022, 10(4), 212-222. DOI: 10.12691/education-10-4-9
  2. Lubega F.X., Aguti J.N. & Musoke Genza G. (2022). School-based reward practices and their influence on teacher motivation and teaching quality in secondary schools in Masaka District, Uganda. International Journal of Innovative Research and Knowledge. Volume-7 Issue-3. ISSN-2213-1356.   http://www.ijirk.com/issue-details/661
  3. Nabaho L., Aguti, J.N, & Oonyu, J. (2019). Unravelling Quality in Higher Education: What Say the Students? Africa Education Review. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2016.1224600
  4. Nabaho, L., Aguti, J.N., & Oonyu, J. (2018). Academics’ Perceptions of Good Teaching: An Assessment of the Degree of Parity with Student Evaluation of Teaching Questionnaires. Africa Education Review, 16 (4), 94-111.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2017.1390395

  1. Nabaho, L., Aguti, J.N., & Oonyu, J. (2017) “Making Sense of an Elusive Concept: Academics’ Perspectives of Quality in Higher Education”. In Higher Learning Research Communications, Vol. 7 Num 2.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18870/hlrc.v7i2.383
  2. Nabaho, L. ,  Oonyu, J., & Aguti J.N. (2017) “Good Teaching: Aligning Student and Administrator Perceptions and Expectations”. In Higher Learning Research Communications Vol. 7, Num. 1   https://www.hlrcjournal.com/index.php/HLRC/article/view/321/260
  3. Nabaho, L., Aguti, J.N., Oonyu, J. (2016) “Assuring the Quality of Teaching at Makerere University in Uganda: Practices and Experiences of Academics and Students”. In Alternation 23,1, pp 40 – 61  ISSN 1023-1757.  http://utlo.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/Documents/03_Nabaho_f_edit.sflb.ashx
  4. Nabushawo, H.M ., Aguti, J.N. & Winterbottom, M. (2016) “Unlocking the Potential of Public Libraries in Supporting Distance Learning” in Journal of Learning for Development Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1-13.
  5. Aguti J.N., Nakibuuka D., & Kajumbula R. (2009) “Determinants of Student Dropout from Two External Degree Programmes of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda” in Malaysian Journal of Distance Education 11(2), 1322. 
  6. Aguti J.N. & Fraser W.J. (2006) “Integration of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Distance Education Bachelor of Education Programme, Makerere University, Uganda”,   The Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 7 (3): 89-104. http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/tojde23/articles/article7.htm
  7. Aguti, J. N. & Fraser, W. J. (2005) “The challenges of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in Uganda through distance education programmes”. Africa Educational Review, 2(1):91-108.
  8. Aguti, J.N. (1998) “Equivalence of Standards and Parity of Outcomes:  The Illusive Issue at Makerere University” In Huria Journal of the Open University of Tanzania Vol II No1 September, 1998

Other Publications

  1. Aguti, J.N. 4th October 2016, Blog - “Helping teachers remain relevant and effective” https://www.col.org/news/col-blog/helping-teachers-remain-relevant-and-effective
  2. Aguti, J.N. 1st October 2015 Blog – “Positioning teachers to play a role in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals” https://www.col.org/news/col-blog/positioning-teachers-play-role-achievement-sustainable-development-goals
  3. Aguti, J.N. 7th October 2014  Blog - “Teachers, the Unsung Heroes” https://www.col.org/news/news/teachers-unsung-heroes
  4. Aguti, J.N. 2012 Widowed But Not Alone Good News Printing Press Ltd: Kampala.
  5. Diallo B., Thierry K., Aguti J.N., Villet C., & Wangeci Thuo C. (2008) The African Virtual University Teacher Education Program: Across borders and language barriers in 10 African countries. WikiEducator Free Learning Content  http://wikieducator.org/PCF5/Children_and_youth
  6. Aguti, J.N. 2003 “Silent Music” in H. Ely (Ed) The Best Poems & Poets of 2002 Owings Mills: The International Library of Poetry p. 158
  7. Aguti, J.N. 2002 “Donkey Wife” in Rapisarda J. & Vorce C. (Eds)  The Layers of Lives Owings Mills: The International Library of Poetry. P. 107

Aguti, J.N. 1998 “The African Virtual University Project (AVU)” In Challenges and Perspectives of Universities in Africa Report on an International Seminar Kampala, Uganda March 2-5, 1998.   GTZ
Presentations

2021 & 2022 Conferences 

14th – 15th September 2022 ICT Skills Development for both Learners & Teachers 4th Annual Higher Education Conference, NCHE

8th – 11th April 2021 Adaptation of current and future challenges for public universities under COVID 19 Pandemic 3rd Annual Higher Education Conference, NCHE

3rd – 5th August 2021 “Emerging Trends in the Wake of Pandemics & Changing Education Terrain” A Keynote Speech Presented at the Distance Education and Teachers’ Training in Africa (DETA) Conference

28th July 2021 “Transitioning to remote teaching and Learning at Makerere University under the leadership of the IODeL” A Paper Presented at the Enhancing Quality and Internationalisation of Study Programmes Through Mobile Transformative Pedagogy (EQIP) Project Workshop – Reimagining Higher Education Amidst a Global Pandemic: Sustaining Online Teaching & Learning in Higher Education Institutions, Makerere University, Kampala

Professional Appointments

27th October 2017 – to date Fellow Uganda National Academy of Sciences

Research Focus
  • Teacher Education -
  • ICTs in education
  • Open, distance and e learning 
  • Gender issues in education 
Courses Taught
EDM 7102: Education Project Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation
EDM 7205: Educational Strategy and Strategic Planning
Committees Served
Member Busitema University Senate & Serving on a number of Busitema University Senate Committees
Chairperson, Busitema University Open and Distance Learning Steering Committee
Chairperson, Busitema University Steering Committee ISO Certification
September 2021 to date - Member of the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) Senate representing the Public
2019 to date Deputy Chairperson, Kumi University Council
Staff Type
Academic Staff