By Frank KamuntuÂ
Ugandan scholar and reformist educationist, Professor Lawrence Muganga, will on Saturday, October 18, 2025, be honored with the prestigious Global Impact Award at the Excellence Awards, slated for the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Prof. Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University (VU), has distinguished himself as a bold innovator and visionary leader in higher education. His academic journey has spanned continents from his tenure at the University of Alberta in Canada to his groundbreaking reforms at Victoria University in Uganda.
Since assuming leadership at Victoria University, Prof. Muganga has engineered a sweeping transformation of the institution, positioning it as a trailblazer in Africa’s higher education space. Under his stewardship, VU became the first university in East and Central Africa to adopt an integrated, competency-based learning model, which shifts emphasis from rote memorization to practical, skills-driven, and technology-powered education.
He introduced Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), ensuring that every student graduates with hands-on industry experience, internships, and entrepreneurship skills, bridging the gap between academia and the job market. Additionally, he has championed the use of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies to retool curricula, empower faculty, and prepare students for the future of work.
Prof. Muganga’s reforms have not only elevated Victoria University’s profile but also inspired national and regional conversations on reimagining education to match the demands of the digital era. Governments, institutions, and policymakers across Africa increasingly seek his counsel on how to dismantle outdated systems and replace them with learning models that cultivate critical thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers.
The Global Impact Award, which recognizes individuals whose influence transcends borders, celebrates Prof. Muganga’s pioneering vision. Organizers praised him as “an academic giant, a visionary leader, and a global force redefining Africa’s future.”
His recognition in Toronto underscores not only his international stature but also Africa’s emerging intellectual leadership on the global stage. By challenging conventions and building a university model that works for the 21st century, Prof. Muganga has proven that Africa is not just catching up but leading.
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