In pursuit of its research and internationalization agenda, Makerere University through the College of Business and Management Sciences hosted Professor Dr. Jonas Puck, the Dean for International Affairs at the WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Makerere University is one of the leading universities in Africa with alumni spread accross the globe. WU Vienna University of Economics and Business is one of Europe’s leading institutions of higher education in the fields of economics, business and social sciences.
During his visit to Makerere University on Wednesday 26th November 2025, Professor Puck interacted with the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)- Professor Winston Tumps Ireeta, the University Secretary-Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences-Professor Edward Bbaale, members of faculty, as well as, PhD and Masters’ students.
Makerere University and WU Vienna University of Business and Economics, envision a wide range of collaborative opportunities, including:
- Academic mobility for students and staff
- Joint research projects and co-authored publications
- Visiting scholar and fellowship programmes
- Partnerships in innovation, curriculum development, and knowledge exchange
- Capacity enhancement in emerging fields such as AI, digital transformation, taxation, and applied economics
Aligned with Makerere’s strategic plan
Professor Bbaale stated that Professor Puck’s visit fits within Makerere University’s long-term plan to enhance its position as a research-driven and innovation-oriented institution. Over the years, Makerere has prioritized partnerships, collaboration, and international visibility—a direction that has elevated the University into the ranks of globally recognized collaborative institutions.
“Professor Puck’s presence highlights our shared vision for strengthening cross-border academic cooperation,” Prof. Bbaale remarked.
A Partnership rooted in shared academic strength:
The College of Business and Management Sciences and WU Vienna University, possess complementary strengths across business, economics, and planning fields. With these synergies, both institutions have significant potential for sustained cooperation. This visit builds on earlier connections established in 2024 through the Makerere Innovation and Incubation Centre under the Erasmus+ Inter-Institutional Agreement (2022–2025).
Those initial engagements set the stage for more structured collaboration involving research partnerships, staff and student exchanges, and broader academic linkages.
Professor Bbaale emphasized the importance of formalizing the growing partnership and encouraged both institutions to move toward the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This, he noted, would provide a structured framework for long-term cooperation and ensure that ongoing initiatives translate into sustainable institutional benefits.
Lecture on AI and Business Decision-Making:
Professor Puck delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled: “Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making: A Leverage for SMEs in the Modern Business Environment.”
He explored the pivotal role of AI in shaping modern business practices and the ways in which small and medium enterprises can harness emerging technologies to enhance decision-making.
The session attracted students, researchers, and faculty eager to understand how AI is influencing global economic and business landscapes.
He stressed that we all work with AI, and provided a strong case for AI to support businesses, operations, and decision making.
He defined AI as a discipline that focuses on creating machines that can perform tasks that require human intelligence. His lecture focused on tapping into the benefits of AI. He disclosed that AI reduces biases in decision making, citing its potential to present facts and figures.
He explained that when a firm uses AI to analyse foreign markets to receive data-driven recommendations about investment opportunities, this reduces the influence of personal biases.
Reflecting on AI and the efficiency of lawyers, he shared figures proving that AI supports lawyers to design of contracts. According to Professor Puck, this example, demonstrates that with AI, the quality of work and outputs will be enhanced, thus enabling companies to make more decisions.
Addressing some of the fears, Professor Puck highlighted that computers would not take over companies. “Companies require the human element. SMEs will use AI models and technology to support their work,” he said.
Tackling AI and Bounded Rationality, Professor Puck stated that like humans, AI can suffer from boundaries to its rationality such as AI trained on incomplete or non-representative data, AI might suffer from cognitive limitations due to simplified objectives. In addition, there is an issue of bounded rationality on how humans use AI. “AI does not offer the same benefits to all users.”