Pic : The International Open University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Makie Taal, and the IOU Uganda Representative Br. Abdala Bogere met with the Great Nile Technology University (GNU) team, which included lecturers from IUIU, to discuss a potential collaboration with IOU in offering PhD and Master's research supervision.

Prof. Taal briefed the team on the current status of IOU and asked them to explain what GNU would contribute to the partnership. They indicated that they would provide buildings, learning platforms, students, local infrastructure, and local research supervision support. They also expressed their willingness to host and support the delivery of IOU programs at their institution.

Action Points:

• GNU will recruit students for the existing IOU PhD programs.
• GNU will provide local support through its learning center for both the PhD and Master's programs.
• The Master's programs will be delivered using a hybrid model (70% online and 30% face-to-face).
• GNU will support the research component through local supervision and research facilitation.
• Prof. Taal advised GNU to consider changing its institutional status to a college to enable a partnership with IOU in offering IOU programs.