INVITATION:
The Dean, East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development under the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), cordially Invites you to a PhD Public Defense of the following candidate:
Name of the Candidate: Mr. David Katende
Title of Thesis:
Community-Oriented Focus at Mountains of the Moon University: An Exploration of Organizational and Individual Adaptability
Date: Friday 19th December 2025.
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
ABSTRACT
The study set out to explore the organizational and individual adaptability of the community-oriented focus at Mountains of the Moon University (MMU), prompted by turbulence associated with its transition from a community-oriented private to a public university. The study based on a social constructivism worldview, anchored on symbolic interactionism as the philosophical school of thought, and theoretically guided by institutional logics theoretical framework. Adopting a case study design, the study used a qualitative approach, collected data through interviews with faculty deans, academic staff, community engagement coordinators, and top management, supplemented by document analysis. Thematic analysis, aided by NVivo 14, was used to establish organizational and individual adaptability logics culminating into four themes of; integration of community engagement (CE), structures for CE, constraints for CE and CE practices. It was therefore found that organizational adaptability logics (organizational vision, mission and philosophy, coordinating structures for CE, institutional policies, constraints for CE, discipline-driven CE, problem-based CE practices and equity in CE) and individual adaptability logics (discipline-based CE practices, structures for CE practices, integration of CE in teaching, integration of CE in research and discipline-driven CE activities) account for the current state of community-oriented focus at MMU. The study concludes that, at the organizational level, MMU demonstrates strong community-oriented adaptability through its embedded ethos, problem-based practices, and discipline-driven engagement. At the individual level, staff demonstrate strong intrinsic motivation, disciplinary innovation, and adaptability in teaching, research, and outreach. However, the uneven support, limited incentives, workload pressures, and the absence of formalized structures for coordination, constrain sustainability of CE. For organizational level adaptability, the study recommends that, MMU should institutionalize its community-oriented focus by enacting a comprehensive CE policy, establishing a central CE office, harmonizing faculty practices with clear objectives and indicators, promoting interdisciplinary and problem-based initiatives, and building staff capacity and incentives to embed CE as a sustainable, equitable, and core institutional responsibility. At the individual level, the study recommends that, MMU staff should strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration through co-designed CE platforms, adopt team-based engagement models, develop transparent co-creation frameworks, monitor workloads, and implement structured guidelines to sustain outreach and enhance adaptive participation.
Supervisors:
- Professor Ronald Bisaso
Doctoral Committee:
1.Professor F.E.K Bakkabulindi
2.Assoc. Professor Betty Ezati
3.Assoc. Professor Joseph Kimoga
4. Dr. Florence Nakamanya
Your presence and participation will be highly appreciated as we