George Openjuru

Gulu University

Biographical Abstracts

George L. Openjuru is vice chancellor of Gulu University in Northern Uganda and a professor of education, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to community-engaged scholarship in higher education. He has been vice chancellor since 2018, having previously served as deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs. A pioneer in lifelong learning, he was the founding dean of the School of Distance and Lifelong Learning at Makerere University.

Professor Openjuru’s research focuses on adult literacy, lifelong learning, community-university engagement, and expanding access to higher education. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to several community-university engagement and transformative education initiatives, including the TESCEA project. His leadership has shaped Gulu University’s development strategies and strengthened its role in advancing sustainable development in Northern Uganda.

He chairs the Uganda National Curriculum Development Centre and previously chaired the Uganda Vice Chancellors' Forum. Internationally, he is the vice chair of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and has collaborated with global leaders through the UNESCO Chairs programme, PRIA, and the University of Victoria.

Openjuru’s work has earned him recognition as the African Educationist of the Year 2024 for advancing social justice, promoting academic innovation, and conducting community-based research, reinforcing his vision of universities as engines of inclusive development.

Areas of Expertise

• Community literacy education
• Community-based participatory research
• Community-university engagement
• Parental involvement in education
• School education and governance