LivingStone International University is a private university in Uganda near Mbale town. It is overseen by a board of directorscomposed of Christians from both Uganda and U.S. The university is non-denominational with no denomination oversight. Historically, it was founded by missionaries associate with the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in the United States to provide a high-quality university education to a remote and underserved area in East Africa. Faculty and students participate in a mentoring program and a university environment that encompass spiritual, intellectual, interpersonal, and social-cultural dimensions of human development within a diverse student body.
Location
LIU opened in January 2012 on a leased campus near the center of Mbale, Uganda, by road it is approximately 250 kilometres northeast of Kampala, the capital and largest city in that country. Its coordinates are: 1°05'03.0"N, 34°10'45.0"E. LIU plans to occupy this leased campus until Phase 1 of the construction of the permanent campus is completed in June 2019, after which it will serve as an extension campus for evening courses and professional development programs. The new fifty-acre campus is located just outside Mbale municipality on the main road that goes west toward Kampala. A campus master plan has been developed for the eventual construction of a campus that will serve 4,000 students. The coordinates of the permanent university campus entrance are: 1°04'26.0"N, 34°06'54.0"E.
History
Planning for LivingStone International University began as early as 2006. The LivingStone International University Strategic Plan 2009-2014 was completed December 19, 2007 and submitted to the Uganda National Council for Higher Education with the goal of being chartered as a fully accredited university by the Uganda government. The first step in this process was accomplished December 19, 2008 when the NCHE issued to LIU a Letter of Interim Authority. This allowed LIU to begin buying property, prepare curricula, hire faculty and staff and set up banking and other business tasks. LIU received its Provisional License from the NCHE in March, 2011. This prepared the way for the first student intake in January, 2012. Currently LIU is working under the guidance of the NCHE toward qualifying for a full university charter. On January 16, 2012 the inaugural class of LivingStone International University began with thirty-four students. With the second intake in September 2012, the student body grew to over fifty. In 2018 its enrollment reached almost 300. As of March 2019 over $5 million has been invested into the development of LIU, the acquisition of the land, the construction of Phase 1 of the new campus, the addition of programs and schools, scholarships and operating funds for operational expenses.
Academics
LIU offers both bachelors and diploma programmes in five schools. The five schools are: School of Business; School of Christian Ministry; School of Education; School of Computing and Information Technology; and School of Media Technology. Additional relevant future programs are planned for the near future. The university also offers a certificate course in Networking program Which takes six to ninemonth.
Innovation and technology
Each student at LIU is issued an electronic tablet or laptop as a medium for accessing textbooks as well as receiving other instructional materials and assignments from lecturers. There is currently a 1:5 computer-to-student ratio to provide technologically enhanced campus for the modern world that requires technological knowledge in the job market. Students in the Media Technology program receive hands-on experience in digital video and audio production on up-to-date equipment in the University's own studio. Students majoring in Computing and Information Technology have extensive hands-on training. Other programs utilize digital technology in various ways to enhance each program.
