From Virtual to Reality, meet Alfred Oryem - our first student on-campus intern from The Aga Khan University, Uganda

Prof Eeva Leinonan with Aga Khan University intern Alfred Oryem
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - 09:00

On the 1st of July 2024 Maynooth University (MU) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Aga Khan University. The strategic partnership, the first of its kind between an Irish university and the The Aga Khan University in Uganda, aims to foster collaboration in the coming years across several areas including research collaboration, student and staff mobility. Following two successful AKU virtual internships in Summer 2023 with the MU International Office and the MU Development and Alumni Relations Office, the Arqus Team at Maynooth University had the privilege of hosting a student intern from Aga Khan University in August 2024. Immediately the intern, Alfred Oryem, began making significant contributions.

IO_Ben Finnegan with Alfred Oryem


To enrich the learning experience during the internship, the MU Arqus Alliance Project Manager, Ben Finnegan, arranged an unexpected in-person visit for Alfred, who is currently based in Gulu, Uganda. Following a series of meetings, visa interviews, and thorough preparations, the student arrived on campus in November 2024. During his visit, he played an active role in supporting the Arqus Alliance Working Group Co-Leads event, further enhancing the team’s efforts

Alfred, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Digital Journalism, shares his exclusive first-hand account of his experience at Maynooth University in the International Students' blog
here.