MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
MILLENIUM SCIENCE INITIATIVE
PROJECT:
UPGRADING THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL
CHEMISTRY (BIC) PROGRAM TO THE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN PROCESS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(BPCE) PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY,
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
Concept paper to be submitted for consideration to the Uganda National Council of
Science and Technology in bid for sponsorship under the Millennium Science Initiative
Through:
The Head, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University.
Principal Author:
Dr. Steven A. Nyanzi, Head, Department of Chemistry, Makerere
University.
Co-Authors: Mr. G. M. Mabudo, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University.
Mr. R. S. Muyanja, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University.
Mr. Daniel Kasule, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University.
Mr. James Ssekamatte, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University.
March 2007
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1.0
Introduction
In the mid 21st Century, it was believed that only the three conventional engineering
disciplines of Mechanical, Civil and Electrical, were sufficient for most African
countries’ development. Hence, in Uganda, just like in most African countries, these were
the only known engineering disciplines taught in tertiary educational institutions. This
resulted in Africa being the mining fields of a number of minerals as well as the garden
for crops like cotton, sisal, coffee, tea and many other cash crops. Just like most minerals
which were just mined and not refined in Africa, so were most of the agricultural
produce. This explains why countries like Uganda, Ethiopia and Angola which produce
coffee, export more raw beans than process it to the value-added grade of instant coffee.
In the European countries, Africa’s raw produce found ready market since technology
had already advanced beyond these conventional engineering disciplines to include new
ones like chemical, electronics and petrochemical engineering, which were hardly heard
of in Africa. More and more engineers graduated from universities and colleges in these
disciplines with better capability to convert many raw materials to value-added products,
unlike in Africa where the conventional engineering disciplines could mostly produce for
the European’s high tech industries. The above contrast meant that availability of
technocrats like chemical engineers was a major catalyst for the increased rate of
industrial development in Europe, whereas their lack in Africa on the other hand, retarded
our industrial development.
The situation in East Africa and Uganda in particular, was one of producing mostly raw
or semi-processed produce for the European market until the near past. It was generally
agreed that it was more costly to build the high-tech factories for value addition to our
produce, especially when we did not have readily available trained personnel like
chemical engineers. However the situation has changed and many process factories are
being erected and commissioned even in land-locked countries like Uganda. These
factories use raw materials found within the country as well as some imported ones. It is
for this reason that it is necessary to train personnel to manage these factories and hence
improve the export base of our country.
The UNESCO-Department of Chemistry project of the early 1980s which culminated
into the current BIC program at Makerere University was intended to train technical
personnel for the ever increasing agro-based process factories that were envisaged at the
end of the 21st century. It was hoped that the graduates with a scanty knowledge of
chemical engineering, would be able to manage the processes in most factories. With
more diverse chemical engineering based industries being set up in Uganda, the situation
has changed rapidly and we now need to train fully fledged chemical engineers who will
not only manage the processes, but go deeper in research in the same fields. Furthermore,
a new raw material, petroleum oil, has been discovered in Uganda. The petroleum
industry has been known to be the mother of most chemical and process industries the
world over. This oil would make Uganda have the chance to produce great volumes of
different industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics and goods. However, in order to
realize this dream, it is imperative to refine this crude petroleum in Uganda instead of
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exporting it to countries which already have both the industrial infrastructure and the
trained personnel. Hence the need to train fully qualified chemical engineers even the
more important.
The training of a chemical engineer needs a more elaborate curriculum with better
infrastructure on the ground. This project aims at upgrading the Bachelor of Science in
Industrial Chemistry (BIC) program at Makerere University into a Bachelor of Science in
Process and Chemical Engineering (BPCE). The BIC program curriculum which offers
about 120 Total Cumulative Credit Units over three years normal duration, would be
transformed to a better market orientated one (BPCE) with more TCCUs and of four
years normal duration.
The upgrading of the BIC program into that of BPCE would be preceded with capacity
building, both of personnel and infrastructural for a period of about 4 years. The
personnel capacity building would involve training the existing lecturers in the BIC
program at different levels. This includes PhDs for the current 5 established staff in the
BIC sub section who hold Masters degrees, and Masters/PhD degrees for a suitable
number of recruits to beef up the staff and efficiently manage the BPCE program.
The infrastructural capacity building would include adequately equipping laboratories to
conduct both research and practical components of the courses. The unit operations
laboratory would have all functional operations of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass
transfer, particulate solids handling, chemical reaction engineering, process analysis and
control. A biochemical/process laboratory would also be equipped.
A site for the Department of Process and Chemical Engineering would also need to be
availed by Makerere University if not in the Department of Chemistry, and construction
would have to be done.
The BPCE would seek to build linkages with various institutions both locally and
internationally. It is hoped that these linkages would help in funding collaborative
research beneficial to both the department and those institutions.
2.0
Historical background of the BIC program
In 1981 a UNESCO sponsored project was initiated in the Department of Chemistry at
Makerere University to gradually introduce an option in the Faculty of Science that
would be composed of some chemical engineering courses. These courses would be
offered in Years II and III to a select number of students who would have demonstrated
high grades in mathematics and chemistry in their first year of study in the Faculty.
For a number of years, students graduated from this option with very few chemical
engineering courses until 2000 when the curriculum was revised to a program where the
students where required to start the core chemical engineering courses in Year I and not
Year II as it had been earlier. Other chemical engineering courses were offered as
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electives in addition to the established core courses in Years II and III. Being a program,
the students were registered as BIC students, and usually graduated with more than the
stipulated minimum Total Cummulative Credit Units for the Faculty of 108 TCCUs.
In 2003 this same BIC program evolved into the present BIC curriculum after a review
which incorporated more basic chemical engineering courses, or made some courses
which had prior been electives into cores. The effect is that BIC students now graduate
with an average of 120 TCCUs in three years.
The BIC program has continued being offered in the Department of Chemistry with the
same infrastructure set up in the early 1980s, despite the increased student enrollment and
more elaborate chemical engineering courses offered.
2.0
Overall Goal
The project aims at upgrading the existing Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry
(BIC) program into that of Bachelor of Science in Process and Chemical Engineering
(BPCE) at Makerere University by training staff to PhD level, designing a new
curriculum of four years duration and equipping the existing and new laboratories in
order to produce better graduates from the BPCE degree program.
3.0
Specific Objectives
The project will:
i)
Upgrade the BIC program into that of Bachelor of Science in Process and
Chemical Engineering.
ii)
Train to PhD level, the existing BIC staff who do not have PhD degrees.
iii)
Recruit additional staff and train them to PhD level for the BPCE program.
iv)
Equip the Unit Operations Laboratory with up-to-date equipment for Fluid
Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer, Particle Technology, Process
Control, etc.
v)
Set up a Biochemical/Process Laboratory.
vi)
Produce better trained graduates competitive on the job market.
4.0 Methodology
The project will be carried out in 4 phases, Preparation, Building Staff capacity to
conduct the BPCE degree program by training of the existing BIC staff and recruiting and
training of more staff, establishing the curriculum for BPCE, Building and Equipping
Laboratories, Staring to conduct the BPCE degree program.
4.1
Preparation
In the preparation phase, linkages with other universities and institutions will be
established for the success of the BPCE program.
i)
These will include establishing the universities in which the staff will
undertake their PhD studies from.
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ii)
iii)
iv)
4.2
i)
ii)
iii)
4.3
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
Recruiting more staff to conduct the BPCE program.
Designing the BPCE degree curriculum
Establishing linkages with industries and institutions for conducting the BPCE
program.
Building Staff Capacity to conduct the BPCE program
Recruiting more staff into the current BIC staff
Seeking admission to PhD programs for the BIC staff.
Training the BIC staff to PhD level.
Building infrastructural capacity
Repairing and maintaining all the existing laboratory equipments and
apparatus.
Identifying and purchasing of new modern laboratory equipments and
apparatus.
Designing and producing Laboratory Manuals for the laboratory experiments
to be conducted with all the apparatus.
Building new laboratories
Installing and testing of apparatus in the laboratories.
4.4
Conducting the BPCE degree program
This will be started in more than one phase. The existing BIC program will be upgraded
gradually by introducing some courses and activities before the real BPCE program is
introduced, e.g. Scientific Research Methodology, Industrial Products/Projects,
Internships, new laboratory experiments, and offering audited courses which will later be
part of the curriculum as either cores or as electives.
i)
The existing BIC curriculum will be revised and transformed into an elaborate
one of BPCE.
ii)
Students will be registered for both the BIC and BPCE programs in the first
two years, but with aim of phasing out the BIC program after four years from
the time of launching the BPCE program.
iii)
The curriculum for Year I and II of the BPCE will be adhered to, while some
courses will be either core or electives in Years III and IV.
iv)
Students will be encouraged to take audited courses in the first three years of
introduction of the program.
v)
Internship period of one semester will be conducted as an audited exercise for
the first two years of launching the BPCE program to Final Year students in
the BIC program (BIC students in Years II and III when the BPCE is being
launched).
5.0 Laboratories
The following are the laboratories that the project will set up/upgrade:
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The Unit Operations Laboratory:
a)
The Unit Operations Laboratory will be expanded (towards the Faculty of
Science Workshop) to create enough space for the new equipments and for a
Research Laboratory and offices.
b)
The following Equipments/Apparatus and their software will be purchased
and installed:
i) Modern Fluid Circuits and Fluid Handling.
The apparatus
ii)
Modern Heat Transfer.
The apparatus
iii)
Modern Mass Transfer.
The apparatus
iv)
Separation Processes.
The apparatus
v)
Others Unit Operations
The apparatus
The Biochemical/Process Laboratory, equipments and their software for
Space (near the Department of Chemistry) will be allocated and a Biochemical/Process
Laboratory built.
The following Equipments/Apparatus will be purchased and installed:
i) Pilot Processes Equipments (Product Design Projects)
The apparatus/equipments: Centrifugal pumps, motors, gears, workshop machinery,
mixers, impellers, different sized reaction vessels, filter presses, centrifuges, heaters,
coolers, refrigerators, freeze dryers, ovens, mills, evaporators, spray dryers, vacuum
pumps, etc.
ii)
Microbiology.
Microscopes, centrifuges, incubators, reactors
iii)
Biotechnology.
The apparatus
iv)
Industrial Wastes Technology.
The apparatus
v)
Organic Chemical Technology Equipments.
The apparatus
vi)
Inorganic Chemical Technology Equipment.
6.0 Staffing Plans
i) The project will train the following staff in the BIC section
No.
Name
Present
Project
6
Training
1
2
3
4
5
Qualification
MSc. (Chem Eng)
MSc. (Chem Eng)
MSc. (Chem Eng)
MSc. (Chem Eng)
BSc (Ind Chem)
and MSc. (Chem
Eng) Student
Mr. G. M. Mabudo
Mr. R. S. Muyanja
Mr. Dan Kasule
Mr. J. Ssekamatte
Mr. Job Kasule
Training
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
ii) The project hopes to recruit and train the following staff
No.
Name
Present
Project
Qualification
Training
1
Mr. J. Masa
BSc. (Ind Chem) PhD
and MSc Student
2
Mr. E. Mubiru
MSc. (FST)
PhD
3
Mr. S. Lukubira
BSc. (Ind Chem)
MSc/PhD
4
Ms. M. Kure
BSc. (Ind Chem)
MSc/PhD
5
Mr. B. E. Bbosa
BSc. (Ind Chem)
MSc/PhD
6
Ms. M. M. Nakimuli
BSc. (Ind Chem)
MSc/PhD
7
(Student)
Present
BIC MSc/PhD
Student
8
(Student)
Present
BIC MSc/PhD
Student
9
Institution
To be sourced
-do-do-do-do-
Training
Institution
To be sourced
-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-
7.0 Tentative BPCE curriculum
The courses in the first two years would be tailored to build a strong foundation for the
chemical engineering degree at the end of the course. There would be Recess Terms after
Semester II of Years I, II and III, during which students would get hands-on experience
in workshop practice and industrial training.
Year I
No.
Course
Code
Course Name
Semester I
1
ICH 1101
2
ICH 1102
Introduction
Computing
Introduction
Process
Chemical
CU
CoreElective
to 3
Core
to 3
&
Core
7
Prerequisite
3
ICH 1103
4
5
ICH 1104
6
CHM 1101
7
CHM 1102
Engineering
Basic Chemical
Engineering
Mathematics
Stoichiometry
Descriptive
Geometry
Basic Physical
Chem
Basic Inorganic
Chem
3
Core
3
3
Core
Core
3
Core
3
Core
21 CUs
Semester II
8
ICH
9
ICH 1208
10
ICH 1105
11
ICH 1206
12
13
ICH 1207
CHM 1204
14
CHM 1205
Statistics
and
Probabilities
Chemical
Engineering
Drawing
Fundamentals of
Electrical
Engineering
Fluid Mechanics
I
Heat Transfer I
PhysicalInorganic
Practicals (Chem
Lab I)
Basic
Organic
Chem
3
Core
3
Core
3
Core
3
Core
3
2
Core
Core
3
Core
22 CUs
Recess Term
ICH 13
Year II
Semester I
15
ICH 2103
16
17
ICH 21
ICH 21
Workshop
Practice
3
Core
Chemical Eng. 3
Mathematics I
Mass Transfer I
3
Unit Operations 2
Lab I (Heat-
Core
8
Core
Core
19
CHM 21
20
21
CHM 1206
CHM 21
Fluid)
Chemical
Kinetics
Analytical Chem
Inorganic Chem
I
(Intermediate
Inorganic Chem)
Introductory
Economis
3
Core
3
3
Core
Core
3
20 CUs
Semester II
23
ICH 22
25
26
27
28
ICH 22
ICH 22
CHM 22
CHM 22
Chemical
Thermodynamics
Microbiology
Chemical
Reaction
Engineering
Chem
Eng
Economics
Electrochemistry
Organic Chem I
(Intermediate
Organic Chem)
3
Core
3
3
Core
Core
3
Core
3
3
Core
Core
19 CUs
Recess Term
ICH 23
Industrial
Training I
3
Core
Year III
The curriculum would allow students to specialize either in the biological or chemical
engineering focus after Semester V
Semester I
29
ICH 31
Chem
Eng 3
Core
Mathematics II
Inorganic Chem 3
Core
Tech I
30
ICH 31
Organic Chem 3
Core
Technology I
31
ICH 31
Fluid Mech II
3
32
ICH 31
Chem
Eng 3
Core
Thermadynamics
9
33
34
ICH 31
CHM 31
35
CHM
ICH 31
Biotechnology
Inorganic Chem
II
Spectroscopy I
Cleaner
Production
3
3
3
3
Core
Core
24 CUs
Semester II
36
ICH 32
37
ICH 32
38
ICH 32
39
ICH 32
40
ICH 32
41
ICH 32
ICH 32
ElectrochemElectrothermal
Processes
Inorganic Chem
Technology II
Organic Chem
Technology II
Transport
Phenomena I
Research
Methodology
Separation
Processes I
Mass Transfer II
Biochemical Eng
I
3
Core
3
Core/Elective
3
Core/Elective
3
Core
2
Core
3
Core
3
3
Core/Elective
Core/Elective
19 CUs
Recess Term
ICH 33
Product Design 3
Research Project
Proposal
Year IV
Semester I
43
ICH 41
44
46
ICH 41
ICH 41
47
48
ICH 41
ICH 41
Chem. Eng
Mathematics III
Reactor Design
Unit Ops Lab II
Industr Wastes
Man
Plant Design
Separation
Processes II
Transport
Phenomena II
ICH 41/42
10
Core
3
Core
3
2
3
Core
Core
Core
3
3
Core
Core
3
Core/Elective
Process Analysis 3
& Control
Biochemical Eng 3
II
19 CUs
Core
Core/Elective
Semester II
ICH 42
ICH 42
57
58
Product Design 3
Project
Internship
6
9 CUs
8.0 Activity Schedule
Activity
Preparation
Phase
Recruiting of
staff
Identifying
Laboratory
Apparatus
Securing
Admission to
PhD programs
Writing the
BPCE
Curriculum
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
9.0 Budget
No.
1
Item
Preparation Phase:
Writing the BPCE Curriculum and
Sourcing Laboratory Equipment
Travel to Univ of London:
Cost
$ 1,500
11
Year 4
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1 Air ticket (return) EBB- UK @
Travel in UK for 21 days @ $10
Per diem: 1 person 21 days @
$200
1 Laptop @ Shs 3,000,000/=
Expanding Unit Ops Laboratory @
$50,000
Unit Operations Laboratory
Equip/Apparatus
Heat transfer @ $20,000
Mass Transfer @ $20,000
Fluid Mech @ $ 20,000
Miscellaneous U.Ops @ $ 100,000
$ 210
$ 4,200
Building Biochemical/Process
Laboratory @ $ 70,000
Biochemical/Process Lab
$ 70,000
Equip @ $50,000
Process Laboratory Basic
Equips @ $70,000
Training BIC Staff to PhD:
5 Staff @ $ 60,000
Training 6 recruited Staff
Members to MSc/PhD @ $ 60,000
Conducting Internships for initial
4 years @ $ 35,000
Conducting Product Design
Projects for initial 4 years @ $
30,000
Preparing and Producing
Laboratory Manuals, 4 Manuals @
$ 5,000
Computers for Staff, 10 @ $ 1,600
Remuneration for Researchers:
Principal Author/Investigator @ $
2000 per month for initial 4 years
4 Co-Authors during PhD
sandwich training @ $ 1000 each
per month for 4 years
Remuneration for Cllaborators:
i) UIRI,:2 Persons @ $ 1000 per
$ 1,600
$ 7,510
$ 50,000
$ 20,000
$ 20,000
$ 20,000
$ 50,000
$ 160,000
$ 50,000
$ 70,000
$300,000
$ 360,000
$ 140,000
$ 120,000
$ 20,000
$ 16,000
$ 1,363,510
$ 96,000
$ 192,000
$ 288,000
$ 96,000
$ 48,000
12
person per month for 4 years
Remuneration for Guest personnel
from Industries, 1 person @ $
1000 per person per month for 4
years
10.0
References
11.0
Collaboration with Different Institutions
11.1 Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI).
The collaboration:
- Improving on existing products
- Collaboration in value addition to local and imported raw materials.
- Collaboration in new products research.
11.2 Uganda Manufacturers’ Association
Collaboration will be sought with UMA to introduce entrepreneurial skills to students
during the course. Skills of setting up manufacturing enterprises, their associated
challenges like capital mobilization, imports/exports and related marketability. The aim
of this collaboration is to build the students’ confidence to set up small scale p-rocess
factories on their own.
11.3 Manufacturing Facilities in Uganda
Collaboration will be sought in training students and in conducting students’ internships
in as many facilities as possible. The facilities that will be targeted are the typical process
factories which convert raw materials to value added products.
Potential Facilities include:
- SCOUL
- Kakira Sugar Works Limited.
- Kinyara Sugar Limited.
- Uganda Breweries Limited.
- Nile Breweries Limited.
- National Water and Sewerage Corporation
- Etc.
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