The MUBS Economics Forum (MEF) has developed a strategic plan as a tool to guide its activities and direction for the next three years

As a business school, understanding of the economy is a key component for teaching students how to do successful business.

MUBS feels it should be able to make a contribution to the debate and also to research into Uganda’s Economic issues

The research will provide a good understanding of the Ugandan economy, its structure, policy framework, the role of the private sector and how to circumvent the challenges of doing business in a poor landlocked developing economy.

What makes MEF Unique?

  • Participatory approach to economic analysis and debate
  • Pro-business approaches
  • Maintenance of independent thinking

Mandate of the MUBS Economic Forum

  • The MUBS Economic Forum was established in June 2011 with the aim of causing debate and generating viable solution on Uganda’s Economic challenges
  • The Forum targets Academicians, researchers, policy makers, business practitioners and student and focus on the following area
  • Research in Economic issues.
  • Generate debate on current Economic issues
  • Training in Economic related disciplines
  • Create a database and dissemination of information

Vision

An All-inclusive think-tank that supports Economic Transformation in Uganda

Mission

To cause debate and general solution on Uganda’s Economic challenges

Overall strategic goal

To carryout research, generate debate and contribute solution to the country’s economic challenges.

Strategic goals of the Forum

  • Generate debate and create awareness on current economic issues to influence policy formulation
  • Conducting research on economic issues
  • Training of staff, students and the public on economic issues

Proposed projects

Short training programme

Certificate in Economics and business Journalism

The media has the responsibility, as well as the opportunity to provide society with objective accurate and timely information and thorough analysis of the economic trend and events.

Through this training journalism from all media outlet (both print and broadcast will be helped to familiarize themselves with fundamental concepts, principles and tools required for understanding and how economies function and why

In addition their reporting skills on business, financial and economic matters will be sharpened by carefully packaged refresher tutorials and hand-on exercise.

Objectives of the programme

  • This short course training is intended to provide journalists who report on business and economy with additional information and skills to improve their reporting skills
  • In particular, this training programme will help journalist to:
  • Get acquainted with the fundamental of business and economic reporting
  • Demystify technical or confusing economic concepts
  • Learn how markets and economies works
  • Learn best practices for covering a variety of complex economic /business/financial/news event

Intended learning outcome

  • By the end of the training, participants should be able to:
  • Understand the basic structure of a business news story.
  • Identify specific financial, business and event worthy of news coverage
  • Explain how companies function and ways they compete with each other.
  • Explain the basic function of financial markets using non-technical language
  • Analyze corporate disclosure documents and identify new worthy elements

Methods of delivery

  • Participants will be familiarized with;
  • Interactive lectures
  • Presentations
  • Discussions and exercises
  • Strong emphasis will laid on practical work, participants will have to write well analyzed news and feature stories on selected economic/business topic with a view to enhance their knowledge of economics and business analysis without compromising their journalistic quality
  • A study tour to some key institutions such as BOU, UBOS. MoFPED, USE and companies and banks as well as some economic research institution.

Length of the programme

This will be a weekend programmes running for two months (16 weekend days)

Facilitators

Facilitators on the programme will be drawn from a blend of lecturers in economics and business at MUBS as well as senior practitioners in selected economic institutions and senior editors with long-standing experience in economic and financial journalism who have a good understanding of participants work situation

Certificate

Upon completion of the full programme, participant will be awarded a certificate by MUBS

Admission requirement

  • The programme is open to journalists who work for print, broadcast and online media. They should
  • Have a minimum of two years professional experience
  • Have a special interest in economic and business reporting
  • Be proficient in English
  • Be in employment with media house with good chance of promotion
  • Women journalists should be particularly encourage to enroll

Payment

  • Each participant will be required to pay a sum determined by the Forum leadership and approved by the Forum Board. This money will cater for;
  • Tuition fees
  • Business journalist handbooks and other training kit
  • Breakfast tea
  • Stationary
  • Transport cost while conducting tour visits

Programme syllabus

  • The syllabus of the two months programme includes:
  • Fundamental of (Macro) economics
  • Thinking like an economists
  • Fundamental concepts in economics
  • Household and business firms in the macro economy
  • Measurement of economic output and unemployment
  • Macroeconomic indicators and their effects
  • Roles of macroeconomic policy (fiscal, monetary, stabilization, trade, investment policy)
  • Global economy