Samuel Andema
Dar es Salaam
Summary
Dynamic educator with extensive experience at Aga Khan University, specializing in curriculum development and research methodology. Proven track record in mentoring graduate students and enhancing literacy programs, leading to significant improvements in educational outcomes. Adept at stakeholder engagement and project management, fostering collaboration to drive impactful change in literacy education. Passionate professional with excellent presentation, research and communication skills. Organized and driven with impressive list of achievements and history of excelling in high-pressure environments. Skilled at applying various learning methods and tools to optimize student experience and academic journey. Committed professional with several years of experience in academic landscape, including student evaluation and creative teaching methods implementation. Eager contributions to professional efforts to assist student development. Hands-on approach to cultivating curriculum and challenging in-classroom projects. Articulate assistant professor with several years teaching in higher education settings. Passionate about motivating and encouraging students to think critically about course material. Skilled at facilitating meaningful group discussions and debates. Innovative assistant professor offers demonstrated history of successfully implementing technology-driven learning tools and assessment methods. Promotes academic development and growth for every student. Provides critical assistance to professional to enhance in-classroom student experience. Assistant professor with a passion for education and a commitment to academic excellence. Proficient in curriculum development, classroom instruction, and student mentorship. Skilled in fostering an engaging learning environment and conducting impactful research. Dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the success of students.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Professor (Language and Literacy Education) - Part-time
Aga Khan University
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
02.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (IED) East Africa (EA)
- Designing, planning and teaching Masters level courses in the area of language and literacy education
- Supervising Masters level dissertation and providing mentorship in research
- Being available for course participants requiring guidance for their assignments
- Observing university policies and establishing performance norms for evaluation of students'/course participants ensuring that this is based on fair and equitable parameters and provide required feedback to students for the same
- Disseminating and integrating research findings in teaching and learning
- Providing leadership to the joint Technical Committee of Aga Khan University and Muni University that has been established to develop a Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management for head teachers in primary school under the Foundations for Learning Project
- Coaching and mentoring professional development tutors involved in the implementation of the Foundations for Learning (F4L) initiative that seeks to enhance the capacity of tutor to produce champion teachers at Arua Core Primary Teachers College and Lodonga Core Primary Teachers' College in West Nile region, Uganda.
- Institute for Educational Development (IED) East Africa (EA)
Director, Training and Research
Pincer Training and Research Institute
Kampala
01.2019 - 02.2022
- Company Overview: An Affiliate of Turku University in Finland
- Designed and taught English Language and academic writing courses for PhD students of University of Turku in Finland at Pincer Training and Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Designed and taught qualitative research methods course for PhD students of Turku University, Finland
- Developed course assessment tools, carried out course assessments, and provided feedback to students based on assessment results
- Participated in fieldwork activities including teaching practice/school practice and field based practicum
- Provided career guidance and support to the students in the process of their application for PhD with Turku University
- Supported the students in journal club activities to enable them critically review journal articles in their areas of study
- Served as an external examiner at Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development, East Africa, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Marked Masters in Education courses including language and literacy, early childhood and literacy course, and research methods course
- Supervised PhD students' research work right from their research proposal development and mentored students to become research scientists of international repute to make meaningful contribution to national development
- Wrote research proposals, carried out empirical researches and published research findings in peer reviewed journals and book chapters to influence educational policy and professional practice
- Provided leadership to the technical committee that designed the curriculum for introducing the teaching of civic education in public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Uganda
- Sought external funding for projects and research activities to enhance the prestige of the institute and improve my professional practice
- Represented the institute in stakeholder events including meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences
- Provided service to the community through leadership in professional organization and participation in consultancy services. For example, was a member of the team of subject specialists (Language and literacy) who wrote the competence based curriculum for the establishment of the Uganda National Institute of Teacher Education.
- An Affiliate of Turku University in Finland
Project Management Specialist
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Kampala
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Provided technical leadership and guidance to USAID's Early Grade Reading (EGR) and related awards, providing appropriate oversight and overall direction for the overall basic education/early grade reading portfolio of the United States Mission in Uganda
- Provided leadership in adapting the USAID/Uganda Mission's basic education/ early grade reading efforts in response to Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation assessment and independent performance and impact evaluation at both the program level and collaboration with USAID, Ministry of Education, donors, and other stakeholders
- Served as the basic education/reading technical specialist and shared responsibility with the Education Development Officer in representing the Education Youth and Child Development Office on various external education committees and with internal USAID stakeholders
- Ensured that USAID/Uganda's views and goals regarding early grade reading are well articulated during various internal and external education fora, including the Education Development Partners, Education Sector Consultative Committee, Education Sector Review, Basic Education Working Group and other Ministry of Education Working Groups
- Worked closely with other education, youth/workforce development, and child protection team members to strategically adapt USAID/Uganda's basic education/reading efforts to the goals of its Country Strategy
- Strategically managed activities to improve national level systems and policies in the Ugandan education sector
- Participated in the designing of USAID/Uganda's (US$ 150 million worth) five years Integrated Child and Youth Development Activity/Program which focuses on improving the fidelity of early grade reading (EGR) model with greater emphasis on teacher professional development, coaching, and mentoring.
Assistant Professor (Literacy Education), Programs Coordinator
Aga Khan University
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Company Overview: Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (AKU IED, EA)
- Developed and taught research methods and literacy education courses, participated in the review of Aga Khan's MED program and courses, supervised an average of six graduate students' MA research work each year, and provided coaching and mentoring to graduate students and staff, particularly the junior staff
- Coordinated Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development, East Africa's language and literacy programs to ensure that the programs are in line with the university's core principles: that its programs must be accessible to all, that they must be relevant to the local/country needs, that they must have a positive impact on the people and the communities they serve, and above all that they must be of the highest quality
- Served as a co-principal investigator for Aga Khan University's research team that carried baseline and end-line studies on the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA) studies in Niwala District, Southern Tanzania which revealed very low literacy and numeracy levels in primary schools on the basis of which a project called 'Strengthening the Teaching of Reading and Arithmetic in Pre-primary and Primary Schools (STRAPPS) was launched to improve literacy achievements in Niwala District, Southern Tanzania
- Served as Aga Khan University's focal point person for the African Advisory of Canadian Organization for Development through Education's (CODE's) literacy research initiative called 'Guiding Literacy Practice: Context Matters' that seek to support early grade literacy particularly for the empowerment of the girl child in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Served as the team leader for Aga Khan University in a program called 'Strengthening Early Years Learning in Tanzania through Flexible Language Strategies' that was to be jointly implemented by Via University from Denmark, Aga Khan University - Institute for Educational Development in East Africa, and Mkwawa University College of Education from Tanzania, in Morogoro District, Tanzania.
- Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (AKU IED, EA)
Policy Adviser
African Storybook Project (ASP)
Johannesburg
05.2014 - 12.2018
- Company Overview: South African Institute of Distance Education (SAIDE)
- Provided strategic guidance and direction to the African Storybook project team and advised the project team on strategic and tactical policy decisions
- Provided technical inputs and oversights of programmatic activities to ensure quality timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities
- Advised the project team on potential risks and risk mitigation measures, and recommended appropriate action on changes to the project plans and processes that made it possible for the project to achieve its goals in all the project countries
- Represented the African Storybook Project/SAIDE in local and international educational events including national and international literacy conferences, seminars and workshops; ensuring that ASP's position on early grade reading material's development are well represented in stakeholder dialogues in order to influence educational policy and practice in support of early grade reading development.
- South African Institute of Distance Education (SAIDE)
Literacy Consultant
Educational Local Expertise Centre Uganda/Save the Children
07.2015 - 10.2015
- Provided technical professional leadership to the Save the Children funded Literacy Boost Project implemented by Educational Local Expertise Centre Uganda (ELECU) in the districts of Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola in Central Uganda.
- On behalf of Educational Local Expertise Center Uganda and Save the Children, carried out a research on the challenges that teachers of early grade faced while teaching literacy in primary schools in Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts whose findings revealed that the teachers in the three districts faced challenges in five key aspects of their classroom practices, namely: (a) curriculum interpretation, (b) knowledge of subject content, (c) awareness on literacy policy, (d) lesson preparation and presentation, and (e) availability of instructional materials
- Designed a customized in-service training program focusing on curriculum interpretation, content knowledge, materials development, understanding language policy, lesson preparation and presentation to improve the pedagogical practices of teachers of literacy and English language in the three districts in Central Uganda
- Trained other stakeholders including pre-service and in-service tutors, inspectors of schools, district education officers, and school management committees in Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts on the roles that they could play in mobilizing parents and local communities to support early grade literacy improvement and English language learning in schools.
Country Consultant - Uganda
Research Triangle International (RTI)
01.2015 - 02.2015
- As one of the 11 country consultants, carried out a comprehensive review of literature on the state of early grade reading materials in Sub-Saharan Africa broadly and in Uganda more specifically which considerably deepened my understanding of the severity of the shortage of early grade reading materials in many Ugandan languages, a major gap in Ugandan education system
- Received a special training on digital data management organized for consultants in 11 USAID Africa Missions that participated in the baseline/market survey
- Conducted key informant interviews and focused group discussions with key players in the book chain, particularly publishers who provided useful insights on the challenges they face while trying to produce materials for early grade reading development
- Participated in the writing of the country report, which culminated into the overall report on the state of early grade reading materials in Africa, an important document that has been discussed by international donor agencies including the World Bank, USAID, NORAD and DFID that has culminated into the establishment of the USAID pioneered Global Digital Library.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of British Columbia
Vancouver
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Extensively reviewed theoretical literature on reading acquisition and measurement best practices, literacy education policy in Sub-Saharan Africa broadly and Uganda more specifically which enabled me to gain a thorough understanding of the challenges and possibilities with early grade reading promotion in Ugandan and other similar educational contexts
- Spent 15 months of my fieldwork providing support to primary school teachers in resource constrained rural Ugandan educational contexts on how to use ICT/digital literacies and local cultural and linguistic resources to facilitate early grade reading development and English language learning
- Interviewed national educational experts in Uganda including ministers, permanent secretaries, commissioners, and directors working with the Ministry of Education and Sports to get their perspectives on the role that ICT and local cultural and linguistic resources like stories, songs, proverbs and riddles could play in early grade literacy development which further enhanced my understanding of the importance of partnership and collaboration for sustainable interventions in education
- In collaboration with the Minister of Education and Sports, the permanent secretary, and my supervisory committee from the University of British Columbia, organized a research workshop at the Ministry of Education and Sports' Boardroom in Kampala to share the preliminary findings of my PhD research which was well received by stakeholders including local and national stakeholders in education
- Took field notes during fieldwork, summarized the field notes, and wrote journal reflections on literacy practices in the primary schools on daily basis which considerably enhanced my ability in documentation and report writing
- Organized meetings with key stakeholders including national education experts, donor agencies, and local community leaders to gain their support that was crucial for the successful implementation of our research project
- Prepared paper presentations for professional, scientific and academic conferences, seminars, and workshops in Africa and North America
- Wrote book and paper reviews and edited materials for publication in peer-reviewed scholarly journals for advocacy and resource mobilization
Chairman, International Development Coordinating Committee - Global
International Reading Association (IRA)
Newark
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Coordinated the International Development Coordinating Committee (IDCC), a standing committee of International Reading Association that consists of regional International Development Committees (IDCs) for Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Oceania
- Enhanced institutional capacity and professional development of the generality of IRA membership and affiliates to develop and implement sustainable literacy projects including early grade literacy and English language learning projects through leadership training in advocacy, teamwork, financial, and human resource management
- Collected and disseminated information regarding international literacy projects to and from Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Oceania to the IRA Headquarter staff and Board of Directors
- Spearheaded the identification of new partnerships and strengthening of existing partnerships through which IRA was able to expand access to literacy for all particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa
- In liaison with regional committees from Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Oceania, provided guidance and support to the Board of Directors of International Reading Association in developing strategic direction of the organization
- Promoted closer collaboration between and among the regional International Development Committees for Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Oceania
- Visited schools/institutions in North America and established collaborative linkages and partnerships between North American schools/institutions and schools/institutions in Uganda, which triggered a fundraising effort in US schools and shipping of large amount of school supplies to orphans in Ugandan primary schools in 2012
- Spearheaded the development of policy guidelines to streamline the operations of the regional IDCs, which helped to make the IDCs more effective and efficient in reading promotion.
Chairman, International Development Coordinating Committee - Africa
International Reading Association (IRA)
Newark
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Promoted and coordinated the International Reading Association's early grade literacy education programs in Africa, working closely with national affiliates and local councils and the global operations unit of IRA
- In liaison with the IRA Headquarter, and the national affiliates, developed a strong network of partnerships with government ministries, universities, schools and colleges, community libraries, local and international NGOs to advocate for early grade literacy promotion to achieve meaningful educational change in Africa
- Established a strong network of national and local reading associations in Sub-Saharan Africa through which IRA was able to deliver its literacy education programs
- Promoted the use of online communication, particularly email and social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and webinar to facilitate communication between International Reading Association Headquarter and its national affiliates and local councils in Africa
- Convened and provided overall leadership to the planning for the 5th and 6th Pan African Reading For All Conferences held in Accra, Ghana in 2007 and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in 2009, respectively that drew over six hundred participants from over 30 countries including policy makers, curriculum developers, literacy practitioners, researchers, publishers who deliberated on the challenges facing literacy promotion on the African continent but also opportunities for collaboration and networking
- Created a database of conference participants and partner organizations with detailed information on the countries in which they were based, the specific projects in which they were engaged, and their contact addresses which IDC-Africa now uses to mobilize participation in the Pan African Reading for All Conference series
- Reviewed and co-edited over one hundred and fifty conference papers from which a book with a focus on basic or early grade reading promotion in formal educational context has been published and is being used by researchers, policy makers, and literacy practitioners across Africa
- Was elected to become the chair of the International Reading Association's International Development Committee - Global, in recognition of the role that I played in promoting literacy on the African continent.
Lecturer
Kyambogo University
Kampala
01.2003 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: Uganda's national university in charge of teacher education with a network of 48 primary teachers' colleges, 11 national teachers' colleges spread across Uganda.
- Played a leading role in designing and development of the three years Bachelor of Arts (English language and Literature - Double main) course offered in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Kyambogo University Main Campus
- Wrote the English language and Literature Education Modules for the three years Diploma in Education - Primary, external (DEPE) program that was delivered through distance learning mode
- Designed and taught research methods and language/communication undergraduate courses in the Languages and Communications Department
- Supervised Bachelor of Arts undergraduate students researches in English language and literature
- Led the successful implementation of UNICEF sponsored and Ministry of Education and Sports supported Break Through to Literacy (BTL) project that sought to promote mother tongue based literacy in lower primary classes in West Nile region whose political history has been characterized by armed conflicts and large scale displacement of people, Uganda - a project whose approach to literacy instruction has formally been integrated into the Ugandan curriculum for lower primary classes
- Trained over 500 primary school teachers on how to use the BTL methodology to facilitate literacy development among children in lower primary classes in Nebbi District
- Initiated partnership between the Reading Association of Uganda, Kyambogo University, National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC), National Library of Uganda and publishers, that sought to promote reading culture in Ugandan primary schools and primary teachers' colleges.
- Uganda's national university in charge of teacher education with a network of 48 primary teachers' colleges, 11 national teachers' colleges spread across Uganda.
President
Reading Association of Uganda (RAU)
Kampala
01.2003 - 01.2006
- In collaboration with Book Aid International, National Book Trust of Uganda, National Library of Uganda, United States High Commission in Uganda and other stakeholders; organized Children's Reading Tents in primary schools in the districts of Arua, Gulu, Lira, Iganga, Kamuli, Hoima, Kampala, Mpigi, Masaka, and Mbarara to promote reading culture that attracted large numbers of children who had fun with a range of book titles
- Hosted in Kampala, Uganda, the 3rd Pan African Reading for All Conference which gathered approximately eight hundred participants from 36 countries globally to deliberate on the prospects and challenges of literacy promotion broadly and of promoting basic literacy more specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Played a key role in designing an appropriate strategy to identify potential partnerships (educational institutions and private local and international companies like airlines, hotels, media houses) and convincing them to financially and materially support the 3rd Pan African Reading For All Conference
- Co-edited approximately two hundred papers presented at the 3rd Pan African Reading For All Conference for publication into a book entitled 'Teaching Reading in African Schools' which is currently being used as a useful resource by academics, policy makers and other literacy practitioners across Africa
- Was elected to become the chair of the International Reading Association's International Development Committee - Africa in recognition of the role that I played in organizing the best Pan-African Literacy for All Conference at International Conference Center now Serena Hotel in Kampala in 2003 and effectively leading the Reading Association of Uganda.
Lecturer
Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK)
Kampala
01.1997 - 01.2003
- Developed Diploma of Education- External Program which offered opportunities for thousands of primary school teachers across Uganda to enroll for diploma of education program that was delivered through distance education mode
- Undertook an extensive research on the Alternative Basic Education for Karamoja (ABEK) - a mother tongue based early grade literacy initiative for youth living in crises areas, and presented the research findings at the 2nd Pan-African Literacy For All Conference in 2001 which attracted a lot of interest and increased the visibility of the project and that of Uganda among delegates leading to the unanimous decision to bring the 3rd Pan-African Reading for All Conference to Kampala in 2003
- Provided technical guidance to the Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda and the National Curriculum Development Center on the introduction of the teaching of local languages in secondary schools from where primary teachers colleges have recruited teacher trainees who would be trained for effective implementation of the thematic curriculum which requires teachers to use mother tongue as medium of instruction in lower primary classes
- Participated in the negotiations for the inclusion of the teaching of local languages in the Ugandan curriculum, the selection of pilot schools for the teaching of local language in Arua District, the development of materials to support the introduction of the teaching of local languages to improve literacy in early grade
- Reviewed the language education syllabus and made reading and writing a major course component in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Kyambogo University
- Mentored younger members of staff in the Department of Languages and Communication including my own students who were later on recruited to teach literacy in the department
- Represented the Languages and Communication Department of Kyambogo University in policy dialogues and other professional events with the Ministry of Education, National Curriculum Development Centre, and International Development Partners.
Education
Ph.D. - Language And Literacy Education
PhD University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada08-2014
Master of Arts -
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada11-2009
Post Graduate Degree in Human Resource Management - Human Resource Management
Uganda Management Institute
Kampala, Uganda09-2007
Bachelor of Arts - Linguistics, English Language Studies, Political S
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda12-1977
Skills
- Curriculum development
- Research methodology
- Dissertation supervision
- Educational policy writing
- Program evaluation
- Academic mentorship
- Stakeholder engagement
- Community collaboration
- Data analysis
- Effective communication
- Team leadership
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Classroom presentations
- Technology-based learning tools
- Academic research
- Lesson planning
- Lecturing
- Classroom management
- Faculty collaboration
- Distance learning tools
- Student evaluation
- Research expertise
- Academic advising
- Student assessment
- Publishing research
- Inclusive pedagogy
- Program assessment
- Online learning tools
- Workshop facilitation
- Digital literacy
- Student counseling
- Project management
Timeline
Assistant Professor (Language and Literacy Education) - Part-time
Aga Khan University
02.2022 - Current
Director, Training and Research
Pincer Training and Research Institute
01.2019 - 02.2022
Project Management Specialist
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
01.2019 - 01.2020
Assistant Professor (Literacy Education), Programs Coordinator
Aga Khan University
01.2017 - 01.2019
Literacy Consultant
Educational Local Expertise Centre Uganda/Save the Children
07.2015 - 10.2015
Country Consultant - Uganda
Research Triangle International (RTI)
01.2015 - 02.2015
Policy Adviser
African Storybook Project (ASP)
05.2014 - 12.2018
Graduate Research Assistant
University of British Columbia
01.2011 - 01.2014
Chairman, International Development Coordinating Committee - Global
International Reading Association (IRA)
01.2009 - 01.2011
Chairman, International Development Coordinating Committee - Africa
International Reading Association (IRA)
01.2006 - 01.2009
Lecturer
Kyambogo University
01.2003 - 01.2008
President
Reading Association of Uganda (RAU)
01.2003 - 01.2006
Lecturer
Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK)
01.1997 - 01.2003
Ph.D. - Language And Literacy Education
PhD University of British Columbia
Master of Arts -
University of British Columbia
Post Graduate Degree in Human Resource Management - Human Resource Management
Uganda Management Institute
Bachelor of Arts - Linguistics, English Language Studies, Political S
Makerere University
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