INTERNATIONAL University of East Africa (IUEA), an international centre for higher education in Uganda, has appointed Prof. Dawoud Shenouda the acting vice-chancellor.Prof. Shenouda, who doubles as the dean of the faculty of engineering, holds a PhD in mechanical science, a bachelor’s of science in telecommunications engineering and a master’s of science in digital engineering from Cairo University in Egypt. He also has a PhD in computer engineering from Russia.Addressing reporters at the university campus recently, Prof. Shenouda promised to improve the institution’s standards and promote courses needed to meet the challenges of the day-to-day dynamic of the job market."We introduced new courses recently to meet the present global challenges in telecommunications and engineering. This is also in response to the regional push to promote sciences,” Shenouda said. Some of the newly introduced programmes include mobile and satellite telecommunications engineering, mechatronics and robotics engineering, mining engineering and petroleum engineering. He said the courses were designed to address the current skills gap in the field of engineering across the region.Prof. Shenouda said the global marketplace has gone digital and more professionals were needed in the various digital technology and science sectors. He added that the world of science and technology has become a global trendsetter, noting that the International University of East Africa was positioning itself to tap into the regional and global market."We aim at playing a leading role in delivering the best education that addresses the economic and social challenges that East and Central Africa face,” Prof. Shenouda said.IUEA has about 500 students from West, East and Central Africa, Europe and North America. The university gives all first year students free laptops to enhance their learning and e-learning.