Working Document Series Open Access Monitoring and evaluating capacity development programmes: A conceptual basis and experiences from the RUFORUM M&E strategy development Agnes Akwang Obua-Ogwal · Washington O. Ochola In responding to the demand for tools, strategy and capacity for monitoring and evaluating (M&E) performance, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) has embarked on development of a robust M&… RUF-35271 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Innovation systems perspectives: Institutional change to strengthen agricultural tertiary education in Sub-saharan Africa E. Adipala · Nodumo Dhlamini · Wellington Ekaya · Washington O. Ochola The changing face of African agriculture in the wake of myriad global, regional and local challenges requires adjustments in agricultural capacity development. Universities are better placed to spearhead this change but they too need to ad… RUF-35269 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Experiences from implementing regional training in the SADC region: MSc. in plant breeding and seed systems at the University of Zambia J.C.N. Lungu · M. Mataa · M.S. Mwala With SADC-ICART support, the University of Zambia designed a plant breeding M.Sc. programme that incorporated both technical and social skills. The programme has graduated 12 M.Sc. students, all of whom are already employed. The paper desc… RUF-35267 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Experiences and lessons from implementing RUFORUM supported regional MSc. and PhD programmes E. Adipala · S.C. Chindime · Nodumo Dhlamini · W.N. Ekaya +1 more This paper gives an overview on the implementation of joint postgraduate degree training programmes being run by RUFORUM, a consortium of 25 universities in the eastern, central and southern Africa region. These programmes involve joint tr… RUF-35266 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Developing an outreach framework for strengthening university-farming community engagement for improved and sustainable livelihoods (SUFACE) J.C. Achora · P. Ebanyat · W. Ekere · P. Isubikalu +2 more This project seeks to develop an operation framework where universities can work with rural farming communities to enhance productivity and competitiveness of smallholder agriculture, as well as responsiveness and impact of universities in… RUF-35260 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Key challenges and issues facing African Universities: A case study of selected African Universities E. Adipala · R. Batte · F. Judith · Washington Ochola +1 more This study assessed the “health” of seven universities in eastern, central and southern Africa with respect to agricultural training and skill enhancement opportunities, appropriateness of curricula, staffing and access to learning resourc… RUF-35259 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Developing a regional agricultural and rural innovations PhD training program in eastern africa: The Egerton University experience D.M. Amudavi · Justus M. Ombati · C.A. Onyango Although agricultural and rural sectors have a substantial economic share in Africa, their performance have remained sub-optimal due to many challenges including limited supply of high level professionals in agricultural and rural innovati… RUF-35252 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing graduate training and agricultural research in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa: Lessons and new thrusts M. Blackie · Paul Woomer This paper was commissioned by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), an association of 25 Universities engaged in natural resource management in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa to explore oppo… RUF-35244 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Use of information and communication technology in the dissemination of agricultural information in Public Agricultural Research Institutes in Uganda J. Githeko · M. Ugen · M. Yiga The objective of this study is to identify and analyse challenge of use of Information Communication Technologies by public agricultural research institutes. It involves questionnaire interviews with 328 respondents and use of secondary in… RUF-35192 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Challenges facing research institutions in using information and communication technologies to disseminate agricultural information to farmers in Gezira State, Sudan K. El-siddig · J.M. Githeko · N.S. Musa In this study the challenges of effective use of ICTs to disseminate agricultural information were investigated. The study also sought to determine whether the extent of ICTs usage influenced the quality, timeliness and usefulness of disse… RUF-35170 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Attracting women into agricultural education: Constraints and best practice Martin. Adrienne · Forsythe. Lora · M. Najjingo Mangheni The study focuses on women’s participation in higher agricultural education in four African countries. Barriers begin at secondary school where girls are less likely to take natural sciences, and negative perceptions of agriculture prevent… RUF-35164 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of constraints in use of electronic agricultural information resources at selected institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya N.J. Kamar · G. Owour · M. Tabu This study aims at identifying the constraints in use of agricultural electronic resources in academic institutions and their contributions to development in agriculture. Limited access to agricultural e-resources has led to poor research … RUF-35156 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Empowering primary school children to produce food to mitigate short-term hunger through school gardening: The case of Universal primary schools in Kamuli and Soroti Districts, Uganda S. Apolot · P. Kibwika · F. Kyazze · D. Loga Short-term hunger caused by inability of parents to pay for or pack lunch for their children threatens success of Universal Primary Education in Uganda. School gardening if properly introduced offers a sustainable solution that empowers th… RUF-35155 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Willingness to pay for sound waste management in urban and peri-urban areas of the Lake Victoria crescent region Uganda L. Drake · W. Ekere · J. Mugisha Waste management constitutes one of the most crucial health and environmental problems facing local governments in Uganda. In the Lake Victoria crescent region, Kampala residents generate over 1,500 tons of waste per day. However, only a s… RUF-35041 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Lessons and experiences from RUFORUM/ IFS internship attachment A. Kwesiga Kamugisha · E. Nambi · S. Oluka Three undergraduate students who had just completed their studies have been attached to RUFORUM Secretariat as interns for six months. During this period they worked under six different units to gain work experience. The interns indicate t… RUF-34926 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Never sail by someone else’s star: Agricultural education for Africa M. Blackie There is a continent wide recognition that a productive agriculture is a key driver of national growth. But skilled professionals in agriculture are in short supply. Africa’s fastestgrowing and fastest-urbanising population is creating a “… RUF-34549 2010 CC BY 4.0 2 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Delivering value chain based extension services through innovative ICT: Role of tertiary education institutions and development partners P. Mbukwa · C. Mkondya · N. Nhantumbo · Q. Noordin Value chain based extension and advisory services are critical in enhancing the knowledge and skills of smallholder farmers in Africa as they engage in transformative agriculture. In many countries, these services are constrained mainly du… RUF-34326 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access A ‘Trojan Horse’ approach to change: The case of GO4IT1 Willem Heemskerk · Washington Ochola · Mariana Wongtschowski Go4IT was based on the realisation that universities in Africa could improve their student training programmes, to bring change to these countries’ rural realities. To do this, the universities needed to improve the quality and content of … RUF-34317 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Strengthening capacity in tertiary agricultural education and training Institutions: The case of iAGRI I. Minde The Innovative Agricultural Research Initiative (iAGRI) aims to strengthen training and collaborative research capacities of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives … RUF-34313 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Establishment of LMD-Aligned Master programme in post-conflicts countries of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa E. Adipala · L. D’Haese · Freedom. King · C.L. Kizza +4 more Food insecurity and poor health are recognized as key drivers of emergence of conflicts in low income countries. Sustainable peace building strategy should therefore consider investing in increased access to food and nutrition while simult… RUF-34312 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Partnership in research and higher education: Towards initiating and sustaining innovative Institutional linkages Jama. Bashir · Rarieya. Marie Developing strategic partnership has become integral to higher education in the 21st century, and perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the recent proliferation of regional networks and international partnerships among colleges and… RUF-34299 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Open access publishing and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture network L. Levey Publishing is an important component of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture’s (RUFORUM) work to improve the quality of postgraduate training and research in the agricultural sciences. But many members of th… RUF-34287 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Hybrid integration of ICT in higher education: A case of UTAMU R. Baguma · J.T. Lubega While there is general understanding about the paradigm shift in the higher education sector, students’ demands, teacher instruction and technology changes, higher educational institutions are increasingly facing challenges of having to de… RUF-34285 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access African research journals: Challenges and opportunities J.S. Tenywa The need for scholarly journals as a means of dissemination of outputs from African research efforts, particularly the problems and innovations unique to African and related conditions, is overwhelming; yet the operational environment is q… RUF-34284 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Two heads are better than one: Strengthening partnerships in research and higher education D. Doepel · M.P McHenry · S. Sharma Perhaps more than ever our survival as a species is dependent on our collective problem solving ability. Our ability to thrive requires creativity and innovation to seize some amazing opportunities. In both cases - solving problems and sei… RUF-34280 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015