
Dr. Francis Akena Adyanga
- Faculty of Education
- Department of Foundations of Education
- fakena@kab.ac.ug | adyanga1@gmail.com
- +256780121289 | +256702716777
- https://www.kab.ac.ug/university_staff/dr-francis-akena-adyanga/
- PhD. (University of Toronto), MA. (University of Toronto), BAED. (MUK). Postdoc (UNISA)
- | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | ORCID
Francis Akena Adyanga (PhD.) is a Senior Lecturer at Kabale University and also, the Dean Faculty of Education. Francis obtained his PhD. from the University of Toronto in 2014. In 2015, he taught at the University of Toronto and was later a postdoctoral fellow at the College of Education, University of South Africa (UNISA) Pretoria in 2016/2017. He has been a teacher with the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) in Toronto from 2011 – 2016.
Dr. Akena is also a Senior Research Fellow @ the College of Education University of South Africa (UNISA).
Download CVQualifications
- Postdoc, University of South Africa (UNISA), 2016 -2017
- Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology of Education, University of Toronto Canada (2014)
- Master of Arts, Sociology of Education, University of Toronto (2008)
- Bachelor of Arts with Education, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda (2006)
Research Interests
Indigenous Knowledge, Social and Environmental Justice Education, Equity and Diversity in Education, Education in Emergencies and Post Emergencies Contexts and Global Citizenship Education.
Publications
Projects
Supervision
- VHAHANGWELE PAT. LETHOLE. UNISA E-tutors’ experiences and views of Active Learning (graduated with MA Education in 2017) – co-supervised.
- AMOS MUSIMENTA. A Comparative Study of Performance in Male and Female Students in Secondary Schools in Kamuganguzi Subcounty, Kabale District (graduated with MA Education in 2019).
- CHRISTOPHER NDYANABO. The Relationship Between Meal Provision and Students’ Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Kambuga Town Council in Kanungu District (graduated with MA Education in 2019).
- BYARUHANGA ALEX MUGANDA 2018/MAED/1833/R. Influence of Head Teachers’ Administrative Practices on Students’ Discipline in Selected Secondary Schools in Ntungamo District – (graduated in May/2021).
- NABAASA WILBERFORCE 17/A/MAED/057/R. Influence of Parents’ Socio-Economic Status on Pupils’ Academic Performance in Primary Schools in Kabale Municipality, Kabale District – (graduated in May/2021).
- TUHIRIIRWE HELLEN 2018/MAED/1774/R. The Influence of Reproductive Health Experiences on Job Performance Among Female Teachers in Selected Secondary Schools in Kabale Municipality – (graduated in May/2021).
- ASIIMWE IVAN BAGAMBA 2018/MAED/1811/W. Integration of Action- Oriented Research in Teaching Among Lecturers at National Teachers’ College- Kabale – (graduated in May/2021).
Presentations
2021 (November): Keynote address @ the Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa virtual Conference. Topic: Post Covid-19 Education Reform: The Implications for Indigenous Knowledge in Africa.
2021: University of Manchester Alternative Futures & Popular Protest Conference, June 2021 Conference. Paper presented: Collective action for regeneration of the chain of life in the face of disruptive injustice: The case of a Ugandan community –
2020: Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa 7th International Scientific Conference, December 2020. Paper presented: Examining Students Perceptions on Covid 19: Implications for Safe Schools Reopening.
2019: Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa 6th International Scientific Conference at the University of Toronto, Canada. Paper presented: Transcending the Threshold of Transformative Research: Cogenerating Knowledge to Cogenerate New Practices.
2016: 4th Annual Symposium Community Engagement Conference. Engaging Diversity, Expanding Engagement and Utilizing Technology. Northwest University, South Africa. Paper presented: Theorizing Research in Community Engagement: Cogenerating Knowledge to Cogenerate New Practices.
2016: International conference on adult and continuing education (ICACE) in Pretoria South Africa. Paper presented: The Kabake program: popular education for self-reliance in Acholiland, northern Uganda.
2014: Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa 3rd International Scientific Conference in Kampala, Uganda. Paper presented: Methodological Discussions on the Integration of African Indigenous Science in Higher Education in Uganda.
2013: Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa International Conference, Polokwane, South Africa. Paper presented: Integration of Indigenous Science in Formal Education Curriculum in Uganda.
2012: 6th Annual Decolonizing Conference: Decolonizing the Spirit; Towards a Transgressive Pedagogy, University of Toronto. Paper presented: Poornography; Western Hegemony and Spirit Injury: The Case of Kony 2012 Video
2012: 36th Annual National Council for Black Studies conference, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA. Paper presented: Integrating African Indigenous Science in Faculties of Higher Education in Uganda.
2011: Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA), Nairobi, Kenya. Paper presented: Integration of Indigenous African Science in Uganda’s School Curriculum.
2011: 5th Annual Decolonizing Conference: Land, Citizenship, Belonging and the Place of the Spirit, University of Toronto. Panelist: Forgiveness and Reconciliation through “Mato-Oput” Traditional Justice System.
2011: 35th Annual National Council for Black Studies conference, Cincinnati, Ohio. Paper presented: Analysis of the Production of Western Knowledge and its Implication for Decolonization.
2010: Pan-African Family Strength International Conference, Kenyatta University, Mombasa, Kenya. Paper presented: Public Discourse—The Kabake Program and care for Orphans in Northern Uganda.
More Information
Work Experience
Dean Faculty of Education Kabale University (November 2019 to date)
Duties:
- Responsible to the Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs for the administration of the Faculty of Education in accordance with the policies and regulations.
- Chairing the Faculty meetings in accordance with the powers and duties laid out in the University Act
- Foster and encourage research within the Faculty
- Serve on Senate and other University Committees as required and report to the official bodies of the University and to University administrative officers on academic and administrative developments relating to the Faculty
- Ensure high standards of teaching, methods of evaluating teaching effectiveness and grading practices in the Faculty
- Maintain links between the Faculty and other units
- Support curriculum development, review and development of new undergraduate and graduate programs in line with the University’s overall programming objectives
- develop a budget for the administration of the Faculty which conforms with University practices and responsible for ensuring that the budget is spent in keeping with the general objectives towards which the budget was developed.
Lecturer & Head of Department – Foundations of Education (June 2018 – Nov. 2019)
Duties:
- Planning lectures, preparation and research
- Students supervision
- Setting and assessing students works
- Invigilation of examination
- Attending staff meetings
Courses taught
- Higher Education Teaching Certificate
- Education Administration and Management
- Human Resource Management in Education
- Socio-economic Foundations of Education
- Academic writing skills
- Education Technology
- Sociology of Education
Research Associate– University of Toronto (2017 – 2018)
Duties:
- Develop and direct research assignments
- Follow project brief and deliver frequent project updates
- Document, report, and present research findings to stakeholders
- Create a plan of action, set project goals, and manage to completion
- Formulate effective and efficient research processes
- Utilize various professional sources to find and extract pertinent information
Postdoctoral Fellow – University of South Africa (January 2016 – March 2017)
University of South Africa. I conducted a study on Indigenous Knowledge integration in formal education in a remote Indigenous community located at the confluence of South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. The output from this research in which community leaders, elders and schoolteachers actively participated, was published in November 2017 by the International Journal of Educational Development in Africa.
Further, with my mentor, I co-supervised two graduate students (one Master and one Doctorate) and conducted Mixed Method Research (MMR) workshops for graduate students as part of professional development at UNISA.
Course Instructor – University of Toronto ( 2014– 2015)
University of Toronto 2014. To gain students confidence in a class of 29 with 26 from dominant groups, I shifted the focus of the course syllabus for the first two weeks to embracement of equity and diversity in society. Students were excited with the commitment to investing in this innovative model of course delivery executed partially online and in class. The course was phenomenally successful.
Additional Work Experiences (before getting a PhD.)
- Teaching Assistant – University of Toronto (2009 – 2013)
- Research Assistant – University of Toronto (2008 – 2013)
- Teaching Assistant – Gulu University, Uganda (2006 – 2007)
- Program Coordinator – Gulu Development Agency (GDA), Uganda (2006 – 2007)
At GDA, I initiated a new community-based approach to remedial education program that reintegrated over 400 formerly abducted rebel child soldiers into mainstream formal education in northern Uganda. Most of the students later graduated with High school and college diploma with different life skills.
University Committees Served from 2018 – 2019
- Faculty of Education Graduate Committee (Chairperson).
- Committee to implement the Teaching of Higher Education Teaching Certificate at University Lay Apostle of Kigali (Coordinator).
- Ad Hoc Committee to Assess Facilities at Kisoro Primary Teachers College to Teach the Diploma in Primary Education Programme (Member).
- Ad Hoc Committee for Cross Cutting Courses (Member).
- Faculty Committee to shortlist & recommend applicants for job consideration (Member).