St. Paul’s University is proud to have participated in the Capacity Building Workshop on the Research Excellence Framework for Higher Education in East Africa (REFHEA). Hosted by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) in the beautiful city of Entebbe, Uganda , this pivotal two-day event (May 21–22, 2026) brought together academic leaders, institutions, commissions, ministries and state departments in the East African partnering states to elevate the standards of higher education research across the region.

As an institution deeply committed to academic rigor, our participation underscores our dedication to collaborating, networking, and strengthening research governance, quality dimensions, and management. Representing the University, the Director of Research and Innovation the Rev. Dr. Kevin Muriithi observed “improving our research quality, capacity and governance will strengthen the work of our academics in providing holistic and contextual solutions facing our society”

Workshop Highlights & Engagement:

• ·        Participants actively engaged in robust, hands-on sessions designed to drive institutional transformation:
• ·        Evaluating Research Quality: Analyzing real-world case studies to refine principles of research quality.
• ·        Enhancing Governance: Deconstructing scenarios on effective research governance and management frameworks.
• ·        Institutional Alignment: Developing practical toolkits and institutional checklists to align our university strategies with regional excellence frameworks.
• ·        Regional Peer Learning: Collaborating alongside sister institutions across East African Partner States to exchange cross-border insights and strategic solutions.

Our Vision: By refining our frameworks alongside regional peers, St. Paul’s University continues to foster an environment where impactful, high-quality research thrives—ultimately serving our community and transforming society. By implementing the Research Excellence Framework for Higher Education in East Africa (REFHE-EA), SPU will continue to lead as one of the private universities in the research and innovation ecosystem.

Stay tuned as we bring these insights back to campus to further enrich our post-graduate and faculty research ecosystems!

#SPUResearch #HigherEducation #REFHEA #IUCEA #ResearchExcellence #East Africa #Entebbe2026