The Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) has launched the National STEAM Teacher Community of Practice (TCoP), a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening continuous professional development, peer learning, and innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education across Uganda.
The initiative brings together teachers who successfully completed the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) course, Integrating Virtual Labs in STEAM Teaching (IVLST), and positions UNITE as a national hub for collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge sharing in digital and technology-enhanced teaching.
The IVLST course was developed and delivered by the Commonwealth of Learning in partnership with the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), ministries of education, and partner institutions across the Commonwealth. The programme was designed to strengthen teachers’ pedagogical skills in STEAM education, enhance their ability to use virtual laboratories and simulations, support the development of e-portfolios, and foster Teacher Communities of Practice.
Running from December 2025 to April 2026, the course attracted more than 5,400 registrations from 40 countries. Uganda emerged as one of the strongest participating countries, recording 768 registrations and producing 89 fully certified teachers. Most participants were secondary school teachers specialising in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.
As a key project partner alongside institutions from South Africa, Botswana, Jamaica, Belize, and Rwanda, UNITE played an active role in the programme. The Institute’s Vice-Chancellor also contributed to a Commonwealth-wide policy dialogue on STEAM education, highlighting Uganda’s commitment to advancing innovative teaching and learning practices.
In recognition of Uganda’s strong participation and the strategic role of UNITE in teacher education, the Commonwealth of Learning expanded its partnership with the Institute to support the sustainability of communities of practice for approximately 780 teachers. This support enables UNITE to establish and nurture a national STEAM Teacher Community of Practice that will serve as a long-term platform for professional learning, collaboration, innovation, and career development.
The initiative responds directly to recommendations contained in the IVLST Final Report, which identified Teacher Communities of Practice as one of the programme’s most promising components for achieving long-term impact. Although disciplinary forums in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Arts were established during the course, participation remained limited and ended when the course platform was closed.
The report recommended the creation of permanent, institutionally anchored communities that extend beyond individual training programmes. Such communities provide teachers with opportunities for lifelong learning, mentorship, collaboration, and continuous professional growth. As Uganda’s national institution mandated to provide teacher education and continuous professional development, UNITE is uniquely positioned to host and coordinate this community, ensuring that teachers remain connected and continue applying innovative teaching approaches in their classrooms.
Prof. Proscovia Namibiru Ssentamu, DVC (Academic Affairs) and other members of Top Management during the Launch
The National STEAM Teacher Community of Practice will reconnect certified teachers into active disciplinary clusters in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Arts. It will establish a governance structure and mechanisms for ongoing engagement, promote the continued use of virtual laboratories, simulations, and other digital learning tools, strengthen mentorship and peer learning, and support teacher-led research, e-portfolios, and the publication of emerging practices in virtual-lab pedagogy.
The initiative is expected to generate both immediate and long-term benefits for teachers and the wider education sector. In the short term, it will establish a fully operational national STEAM Community of Practice, create five active disciplinary clusters, train 15 UNITE STEAM academic staff as virtual-lab practitioners and facilitators, and develop a shared roadmap for collaboration and professional development.
Some of the certified teachers that participated in the launch event
The programme will also facilitate peer-to-peer learning and support across UNITE’s five campuses in Kabale, Kaliro, Mubende, Muni, and Unyama. In addition, campus-level dissemination videos, a national virtual TCoP exhibition, and teacher-led research projects will showcase innovative classroom practices and generate evidence on the effective use of virtual laboratories in teaching and learning.
Over the longer term, the community is expected to strengthen professional networks, encourage wider adoption of technology-enhanced teaching approaches, improve classroom practice, and create a pipeline of skilled practitioners who can contribute to future STEAM initiatives, research programmes, innovation activities, and community engagement efforts.
The National STEAM Teacher Community of Practice was officially launched on 19 June 2026 at Ridar Hotel in Seeta, Mukono District. The event brought together approximately 100 participants, including the 89 Ugandan teachers who successfully attained IVLST certification, members of UNITE Management, academic staff, and other invited stakeholders.
Participants during the session
The programme featured an interactive session focused on the purpose, structure, and future direction of the Community of Practice. Participants took part in disciplinary breakout sessions to establish working groups, identify cluster coordinators, and develop plans for continued collaboration. The event concluded with a plenary session during which participants adopted a shared roadmap and agreed on key governance arrangements that will guide the operation and growth of the community.
The launch of the National STEAM Teacher Community of Practice marks an important milestone in Uganda’s efforts to strengthen teacher professional development and promote innovative, technology-enabled approaches to teaching and learning. Through this initiative, UNITE reaffirms its commitment to supporting teachers as lifelong learners and educational innovators while creating sustainable structures that will enhance the quality of STEAM education across the country.
By connecting educators, fostering collaboration, and promoting the effective use of virtual laboratories and digital tools, the Community of Practice will contribute to building a stronger, more resilient, and future-ready education system for Uganda.
