Strengthening Global Academic Linkages: DUCE Explores Research, Grants, and Exchange Opportunities
As part of her engagement with the institution, Ms. Roseanna Avento, the Global Development Manager from the University of Eastern Finland, was warmly welcomed by the College Principal, Prof. Amani Lusekelo, at his office. During their meeting, Prof. Lusekelo introduced DUCE, elaborating on its role as a premier educational institution deeply involved in driving academic excellence and impactful research.
At the center of her visit was an interactive roundtable discussion and Questions and Answers session held on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. Given the academic and research focus of the meeting, the Director of Research and Innovation, Prof. Florence Mushumbusi Kyaruzi, hosted the session on behalf of the university. Introduced by Rehema Mwakabenga, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the FUTE project, the session brought together interested DUCE staff and faculty to explore university internationalization, global networks, and future development initiatives.
The core of the session centered on fostering mutually beneficial academic and institutional linkages between the two universities. Attendees engaged in a dynamic dialogue regarding expanded research collaboration, mentorship opportunities, and joint co-authoring for academic publications. To deepen these connections, a heavy emphasis was placed on enhancing institutional mobility through staff and student exchange programs, alongside the potential establishment of collaborative degree programs designed to allow students to seamlessly share and cross-pollinate ideas.
Beyond academic exchange, the discussion focused heavily on navigating international funding structures, specifically highlighting avenues for EU research grants and specialized seed grants. Drawing from her extensive global experience, Ms. Avento provided strategic guidance on how to approach these competitive applications, stressing that grant proposals must be meticulously prepared with highly organized activities to succeed. Moving forward, the discussion underscored the critical need to establish formal legal partnerships to anchor these initiatives, with Ms. Avento extending an open invitation for interested faculty to contact her directly to advance future collaborations.
This engagement marks a significant milestone in DUCE's ongoing strategic efforts to elevate its global research profile and foster internationalization. Moving forward, the immediate next steps will involve interested faculty members channeling the momentum from this session into drafting competitive grant proposals and initiating the groundwork for a formal partnership agreement with the University of Eastern Finland. Ultimately, this dialogue serves as a catalyst for long-term institutional growth, promising to enrich the academic landscape at DUCE through vibrant, cross-continental knowledge exchange.