Video: Dr Mary Kagoire Ochieng, Dean of Education and Arts at UCU
Video: Dr Miria Frances Agunyo, Dean Engineering, Design and Technology at UCU
Readcycle Bath, the University of Bath initiative with the mission to ‘inspire reading, studying and sharing books for the global good’ by sending surplus textbooks to universities in Nigeria and Kenya has been widened to include Uganda Christian University in Mukono District in the Central Region of Uganda.
Dr Teslim Bukoye, Associate Professor in the School of Management and the driving force behind the project, said over 450 books had initially been donated to help students at UCU and that he hoped the project would be able to expand further. The scheme launched in 2022, donating books to Nigerian universities, and was widened a year later to include Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya.
“Initially we sought out surplus management textbooks but our colleagues in Engineering quickly joined the scheme, and this year I am absolutely delighted that the book donations cut across all the University’s faculties, library, SU Bath (Student Union) and the Royal Commonwealth Society in Bath,” Dr Bukoye said.
“These textbooks are powerful tools for learning. The core ideas, theories and case studies they contain remain highly relevant and can significantly strengthen teaching, learning and research. We have already shipped hundreds of textbooks to universities in Nigeria and Kenya, and colleagues there tell me they are making a real difference,” Dr Bukoye said.
Dr Bukoye explained that ReadCycle was conceived during the move into the new School of Management building, when colleagues in the School identified high quality, up-to-date management textbooks that could be shared more widely to support students and universities elsewhere.
"As we prepared for the move, I saw a real opportunity to turn our collective resources into something that could keep supporting teaching and scholarship beyond Bath. By pooling these textbooks and sending them to universities and students who can use them, we are strengthening learning while also contributing to global development goals on education, equality and poverty reduction," said Dr Bukoye, who is also the University’s Race Equality Charter Lead.
Professor Aaron Mushengyezi, Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University, called the donation of 450 books a significant addition to library resources that would benefit both students and staff.
“The breadth of disciplines covered in these materials will support teaching, research and scholarship across our University community. This timely donation has generated a lot of excitement because of the relevance and appropriateness of the selected books,” Professor Mushengyezi said.
Dr Bukoye said the simple act of donating a book and benefiting an individual student has a significant multiplier effect on society, education, equality and wealth distribution in developing nations.
“I think the power of books resonates with us all, and particularly academics. We have had the most fantastic response, both from those donating the books and those receiving the books. It is very heartening and I look forward to seeing the impact of the expansion to Uganda,” he said.
“For institutions of higher learning that are interested in transforming lives through reading, widening access to knowledge and advancing sustainability for current and future leaders, I invite you to join our ReadCycle Bath project and contact me at otb34@bath.ac.uk to explore how we can scale this impact together,” he said.