KIU seeks stronger academic co-operation with Turkish university

Kampala International University (KIU) has strengthened its international academic partnerships after vice-chancellor Prof. Muhammed Ngoma led a high-level delegation to Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ) in Türkiye under the Erasmus+ KA171 Staff Mobility Programme.

The July 24, 2026, engagement is part of KIU’s broader internationalisation strategy aimed at expanding global partnerships, improving research collaboration and creating more opportunities for academic exchange between institutions.

New areas of academic cooperation

Hosted by OMÜ vicerector Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten, the meeting brought together senior officials from both universities to discuss areas of cooperation in higher education, research, innovation, institutional development and international academic mobility.

The discussions centred on strengthening the existing Erasmus+ partnership while exploring new opportunities in joint research projects, academic programmes, curriculum development, staff and student exchanges, digital transformation and capacity building.

The KIU delegation was also introduced to OMÜ’s achievements in teaching, scientific research, innovation and internationalisation, providing an opportunity for both institutions to share experiences and benchmark best practices.

Speaking after the engagement, Prof. Ngoma described the visit as a valuable experience that strengthened knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration in higher education.

International partnerships key to university growth-Ngoma.

Speaking after the engagement, Prof. Ngoma described the visit as a valuable experience that strengthened knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration in higher education.

“It is a very fulfilling experience, full of networking, benchmarking, experience sharing and lots of lessons as far as higher education is concerned,” Prof. Ngoma said.

He said international partnerships have become essential for universities seeking to remain competitive in the changing global education environment.

“Internationalisation is one of the defining pillars of modern universities. Through Erasmus+, KIU is strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding research collaboration, enhancing staff and student mobility, and sharing global best practices that enrich teaching, learning and innovation,” he said.

New opportunities

The Erasmus+ Programme, an initiative of the European Union supporting education, training, youth and sport, provides opportunities for universities to collaborate through academic exchanges, research projects and institutional development programmes.

Through the KA171 International Credit Mobility programme, KIU and partner universities can strengthen faculty development, curriculum improvement, research networks and cultural exchange.

For KIU, the partnership is expected to increase international exposure for both staff and students while promoting knowledge sharing and innovation.

Global visibility

The collaboration with Ondokuz Mayıs University is also expected to improve KIU’s international visibility through joint activities and publications on both institutions’ official platforms.

Such partnerships contribute to strengthening institutional reputation and online visibility, which are increasingly important factors in global university rankings.

The development comes as KIU continues to receive international recognition for its academic and research performance.

According to the July 2026 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, KIU remains Uganda’s leading private university, second overall nationally and among Africa’s top 50 universities.

The rankings, published by Spain’s Cybermetrics Lab under the National Research Council, assess universities based on research excellence, visibility, openness and academic impact.

Global academic collaboration

The visit ended with both universities reaffirming their commitment to expanding academic cooperation, joint research and mobility programmes.

KIU said the partnership reflects its vision of becoming a globally connected institution that prepares future-ready graduates, promotes impactful research and contributes to the international higher education community.