UTAMU students awarded in Flock of Birds Summer Training

Uganda technology And Management University (UTAMU) students have been awarded certificates in this year’s Flock of Birds summer training which took place at Makerere University in Kampala.

The training is intended to create sustainable youth with practical skills to create jobs and be part of the solutions to society problems

Flock of Birds is a Netherlands based Design Firm that offers software development skills to Ugandans. It specializes in software development, art and design.

This year’s participants were equipped with Mendix software skills, entrepreneurship, leadership and communication skills after weeks of an intense training.

The Universities that took part in this training included; Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU), Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Aptech.

The closing ceremony of the summer training took place on Wednesday 12th August 2015 at Flock of Birds premises on Ggaba Road, just after Maybach Motors Car Bond and Hotel Mantra.

At the closing ceremony, the participants parted with several rewards.

The most outstanding students were given jobs, and others parted with goodies like; ipads, smartphones and cameras.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the founder of Flock of Birds, Ms. Ans de Jager congratulated the trainees upon completion and implored their optimize skills acquired to make a difference in the society.

Mr. Eugene Swinnerstone, one of the trainers of Flock of Birds noted that the training was rigorous exercise; students worked on several projects and developed a number of business projects.

The students also testified that the training was rewarding and enriching.

UTAMU is a partner of Flock of Birds and it hosted last year’s summer training. The training attracted students in various Universities in Uganda to undertake a special course in Agile Software Development, Leadership, Client Engagement, Teamwork and Communication Skills.

Some of the activities to be undertaken under this partnership include; job opportunities for UTAMU students, scholarship programs, internship as well awards for outstanding students.

According to the UTAMU Manager for Engagement, Research and Innovation, Dr. Drake P. Mirembe, this partnership is envisaged to develop students’ ability to convert user requirements into products that can be sold to consumers and also to maintain functional systems.

“There is no doubt that this partnership will add so much value to our students not only in the local but also global job market”, Drake revealed.

This collaboration benefits UTAMU students as well as those from other institutions of higher education although UTAMU will maintain its position as a host institution.