Victoria University holds Artificial Intelligence training for all staff with former Executive of Google, Dell and Microsoft Tim Abel

What the report says

Victoria University in Kampala held an artificial intelligence training session for its staff, according to Watchdog Uganda, bringing together academic leaders, department heads and administrative personnel in the university’s main auditorium along Jinja Road. The session was led by Tim Abel, whom the report described as a former executive at Google, Microsoft and Dell.

The article says the workshop focused on practical uses of AI in higher education and university operations. Abel reportedly demonstrated ways staff could use AI to draft curriculum outlines, generate case studies, support research, automate workflows and improve scheduling and data processing. The training was presented as hands-on, with participants testing prompts and building templates during the session.

Watchdog Uganda also reported that the discussion addressed concern about whether AI might weaken the human side of teaching. Abel was quoted saying AI should be used to extend human potential rather than replace educators. The university’s decision to train staff across both academic and administrative roles suggests it is trying to prepare for wider use of AI in teaching, management and student support.

More broadly, the report reflects a growing trend in higher education to introduce staff to generative AI tools and related digital skills. In this case, the emphasis was on helping university employees adapt to an AI-driven environment while keeping academic judgment and mentorship at the center of their work.