Global Impact: Dr. Andrew P. Dean Supports Research Development in Uganda

Last spring, when Academics Without Borders (AWB) issued a call for a volunteer to help a new Ugandan university develop a comprehensive research plan, Dr. Andrew P. Dean knew he had found the perfect match for his expertise.

As Lakehead University’s then Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Dr. Dean saw an opportunity to bridge his professional background with a long-standing interest in international development. 

“Serving in various roles at different universities, including as the Vice-President, Research and Innovation at Lakehead, taught me so much about what makes a university thrive. As my term wrapped up and I looked ahead to what’s next, I really wanted to pay that knowledge forward. This opportunity was a chance for me to use my experience to help where it’s needed most,” says Dr. Dean.

Following the application process, the University of Saint Joseph at Mbarara (USJM) selected Dr. Dean to lead the project, kickstarting a collaboration aimed at a critical milestone: gaining a full charter as an accredited university from the Higher Education Council of Uganda.

Understanding the Ugandan Context

The project began over Zoom, navigating an eight-hour time difference throughout the spring and summer of 2025. However, Dr. Dean’s Ugandan colleagues emphasized that an extended visit to the university and city would be necessary to truly understand the Ugandan context and what could be realistically achieved. 

Through the highly effective organization and support of AWB, and assistance from Lakehead University and USJM, Dr. Dean travelled to Mbarara in Southwest Uganda in October 2025. 

With Rwanda just to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, the region offered a profound shift in perspective for him. 

"I crossed over the equator six times during my visit and got to understand what the rain really means in the rainforest," Dr. Dean recalls. 

Building a Plan Through Community

During his month-long residency, Dr. Dean conducted over 20 interviews and focus group sessions, engaging with students and alumni, faculty and senior administrators, and church officials and community groups. 

Beyond data collection, he integrated himself into the academic life of USJM. He delivered two guest lectures: one for over 80 undergraduate students on research opportunities—noting with a smile that, much like in Canada, students were hesitant to fill the front row—and a second for faculty titled, "Nation Building through Research."

Navigating Challenges with Optimism

The visit highlighted a stark digital and financial divide. At USJM, basics that North American institutions often take for granted—reliable internet, computer access, and even printing costs—are constant hurdles.

"The reality of what the university could afford and implement required a number of revisions to the plan," Dr. Dean notes. "What really struck me was the willingness to work hard, find alternative solutions, and remain optimistic to collectively advance this evolving university."

In Uganda, education is highly valued and viewed as a means to break the cycle of poverty. This cultural value fueled the collaborative effort to ensure the Research Plan was both ambitious and grounded in the university's fiscal reality.

A Lasting Connection

Life in Mbarara wasn't all work for Dr. Dean; the community welcomed him with a cottage and a canine companion named Simba. 

Between walks through banana plantations and sharing many meals and tea with local community members, he finalized a plan that reflects the heart of the Mbarara community. His hosts even ensured that Dr. Dean had plenty of opportunity for his favourite pastime—golf —and organized treks with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. 

The final Research Plan was presented to the full university community at the end of October 2025. USJM is now on track to submit its application for full accreditation this spring.

Reflecting on the journey, Dr. Dean shares, "Visiting Uganda and working with the University of Saint Joseph at Mbarara on this project was incredibly fulfilling and one of the highlights of my time at Lakehead University."

AWB is a consortium of Canadian post-secondary institutions that support AWB’s mission to work with volunteer academics to help low and middle-income countries build the capacity of their post-secondary institutions to drive development and improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Lakehead University joined AWB in 2024.