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As Dr. Eric completed his PhD, he needed a platform to begin his career as scientist. Most early career scientists have to travel abroad to hold a PhD position. Through the Carnegie supported Postdoctoral Fellowship, RUFORUM gave him the opportunity to begin research in his home institution and more importantly to build a research team and develop skills in supervision of graduate students. Wanting … Read More The Post Doctoral Fellowship supported by Carnegie kick-started my career as a Scientist

Dr. Ir. Symphorien Agbahoungba – is a Beninese and holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology from Makerere University, Uganda. He holds a MSc. in Natural Resources and Biodiversity Management, an Engineer Agronomist Diploma and a BSc. in Agricultural Sciences in the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences of the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. Symphorien has been working with the Laboratory of Applied Ecology for … Read More Dr Symphorien Agbahoungba’s Post-Doctoral fellowship experience under RUFORUM and what it means for his career and Country Benin

I am a beneficiary of the Carnegie postdoctoral fellowship awarded to support my research focusing on grain legumes and dryland cereals. Training of young scientists towards masters and doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees was embedded within the fellowship. Collaborative networking to exploit research potential by leveraging on available resources across institutions was adopted, whereby a multi-institutional framework to cater for regional and or international … Read More Generation of Future Science Leaders through Mentorship and Research: Experience under the Carnegie Post-Doctoral Fellowship

In this storyline, I am glad to share with you my experience and lessons learnt during the post-doctoral fellowship that started since 2018. The two-years journey has been an interesting one for me as the upcoming young scholar in Sub-Saharan region. Before I tell you a full story about the post-doc fellowship, let me first tell you about myself in details such that you … Read More Dr. Gabriel Karubanga a post-Doctoral Fellow shares his engagement at Makerere University

Kidega Kenneth was one of the 1,513 students who graduated at Gulu University on 11th January 2020. He satisfied the requirement for the award of the degree of Masters of Science of Food Security and Community nutrition of Gulu University. As part of the support to the Mastercard Scholars at Masters level, RUFORUM gives a four months Field Attachment Programme Award (FAPA) to selected … Read More Former RUFORUM mastercard foundation scholar at Gulu University enhances community knowledge and uptake of Indigenous Micro-organisms (IMO) technology in Kitgum district, northern Uganda.

Robine Okello is a recent graduated with a Masters Degree in Agri-Enterprises Development at the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Gulu University, Uganda. whose study was fully sponsored by the RUFORUM under the Nurturing Grant Project (NGP) with support from the Mastercard Foundation.  He is a Ugandan and shares his Journey through the program.   At the end of my second year, I applied … Read More Internship Training at Refugee Settlements opened doors for my professional development with the African Union

Jean Damascene Tuyizere from Rwandan  a recent Gulu University graduate (2020) with a Master of Science in Food Security and Community Nutrition and one of the MasterCard foundation Scholarship recipient through RUFORUM. Jean Shares his journey as a student at Gulu University and gives recommendations for improvement. My stay at Gulu University has been a transformative phase of my life. In fact an unusual … Read More Gulu University program curriculum is not merely academic but for community transformation

The 12th RUFORUM Principal Investigators monitoring and learning session organized as a side event at the 15th RUFORUM Annual General meeting on 2nd-3rd December, 2019 converged all research teams of projects granted under the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s growth and development (TAGDev project). This was also the first time the Mastercard Foundation met all the project implementers to receive … Read More Lessons and innovations shared by RUFORUM Principal Investigators during the 15th Annual General Meeting in Cape Coast-Ghana

From 29th November to 6th December, 2019 the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture and five Ghanaian RUFORUM Member universities (University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana-Legon, University of Development Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and University of Education-Winneba organized the 15th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting. The meeting that attracted 1003 participants in 35 side events deliberated on the … Read More How the University of Cape Coast and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture wrap up the 15th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting

RUFORUM held its Business Meeting as one-day event at the sidelines of the 15th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting. The Business Meeting was held Friday, 6th December, 2019 at New Examinations Center, University of Cape Coast, Ghana under the Chairmanship of the Board Chair, Prof. George Kanyama-Phiri, the Vice Chancellor of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In his remarks, He informed members that … Read More 15th RUFORUM Business Meeting at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana

The meeting dubbed the Vice Chancellors forum was part of the side events at the 15th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting, 2-6 December 2019 hosted by the University of Cape Coast – Ghana. The meeting that attracted 155 participants met at the School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana and discussed avenues for “enhancing delivery of Africa’s Universities’ Agenda for Higher Education, Science, … Read More Stakeholders in Agriculture, Education, Science, Technology and Innovation discuss Universities’ Contribution to Continental Agenda 2063

Kampala 21, January 2020 As part of the 15th Annual General Meeting activities held in December 2019 at the University of Cape Coast Ghana, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) organised a Joint Meeting of Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Education & Training, Science, Technology and Innovation on 5th December 2019 and Development Partners. This Ministerial Policy Dialogue Round Table focused … Read More Country Statements and Ministerial Communique from the Ministerial Policy Dialogue Round Table held during the 19th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting in Ghana

By mugonya John  In September this year, I received communication from the International Crop Research Institute for Semi_Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) that my application for an internship placement had been successful. Getting an internship opportunity soon after defending my Master’s thesis at Gulu University, was exciting and double blessing. I looked forward to working with a multi-disciplinary team from various countries. I was selected to … Read More Kerio Valley: A beautiful land with an amazing culture

The SACIDS-ACE is a ONE HEALTH Virtual Centre, whose Mission is to harness innovation in science and technology in order to improve Africa’s capacity to detect, identify and monitor infectious diseases of humans , animals, ecosystems and their interactions in order to better manage the risk posed by them. The SACIDS-ACE stems from the concern for a high burden of infectious diseases in Africa and yet limited capacity for its risk management.... Read More 0

Background The Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) is a World Bank supported centre of excellence for education and research at Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main aim of CDT-Africa is to serve as a platform for equitable access to interventions (drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and complex interventions) and bring about sustainable development in Africa through high-quality capacity development for innovative medical discovery and development. CDT-Africa... Read More 0

University World News College to university – Evolution shows national ambitions (Botswana) As government authorities in Botswana envisage seeing their country becoming an education hub for Southern Africa, both private and public colleges within the country are slowly but steadily transforming themselves into universities, with four colleges evolving into fully-fledged universities over the last 19 years. The new universities include BA ISAGO University, now based in the capital Gaborone, a private university... Read More 0

Daily Monitor Why academic mobility within Africa is vital (Uganda) The African Union Agenda 2063 aspires for Africa to become a major knowledge and innovation force in the global economy. The Agenda’s action plan provides a more integrated and inclusive Africa that uses its natural resources, human capital and institutions to drive technological, social and business innovation for development. It proposes to leapfrog the conventional approaches in ways that ensure rapid, sustainable... Read More 0

About RUFORUM: The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), established in 2004, is a consortium of 114 universities in 38 countries in Africa. The organisation evolved from the Forum on Agricultural Resource Husbandry (FORUM) programme of the Rockefeller Foundation. RUFORUM is registered as an International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and undertakes activities to strengthen Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation development in Africa in line with its Vision 2030 Strategy.... Read More 0

University World News Region is not reaping rewards of Higher Education investment – Study (Africa) Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa have failed to equip the region’s fast-growing youth population with market-driven skills needed for prosperous and equitable societies, and the region’s countries are not reaping the rewards of their investment in tertiary education, according to a new study by the World Bank. The report, The Skills Balancing Act in Sub-Saharan Africa: Investing in... Read More 0

Standard Digital University of Nairobi to scrap 40 courses (Kenya) The University of Nairobi is scrapping more than 40 courses as the Ministry of Education reforms plan starts to bite. A confidential document seen by the Sunday Standard reveals that some of the courses at the university had not attracted any students for the last five years. The document – rationalisation of academic programmes – tabled in the University Senate further says... Read More 0