General

Mak Wildlife Students to Train at MRC Kenya

Published

5 years ago

May 23, 2016

Mark Wamai

Dr. Joelia Nasaka (C) at Mpala Research Centre-MRC with Dr. Dino Martins-Executive Director MRC (Left) and Prof. Dan Rubenstein-Princeton University (Right) during her visit to the Centre in 2015

Thanks to efforts of Dr. Joelia Nasaka, an Assistant Lecturer at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), the Mpala Research Centre (MRC) is prepared to host at least 20 Makerere University students of the Bachelor of Wildlife Health and Management, CoVAB for a week. The Centre Management, Science Initiative Group (SIG) at the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University has offered US$5,000 as a contribution to costs required for the students training.

MRC is a well-respected, international research facility located beneath the shadow of Mount Kenya in Laikipia County, with over 200km² landscape. MRC is home to over 7,000 elephants, most of the world’s wild dogs, the endangered grevy’s zebra among other wildlife species. The Centre is also surrounded by livestock populations of the Turkana natives and other privately owned ranches. It is home to researchers and scientists from all around the globe who use state- of-the-art technologies like drones to tackle issues of human-wildlife conflict and thus ensure that both conservation and human-livelihood goals are met.
The MRC camp facility for Students' classroom and dining
The Centre is also moving to work with other East African researchers and research institutions. Thanks to Dr. Nasaka’s efforts, Makerere University has also been identified to build a partnership with Mpala Research Centre. This working partnership will ensure that wildlife students from Makerere University can acquire more knowledge on drylands resources management and skills in use of world-class technologies like drones to ensure more effective conservation of wildlife resources in Africa and beyond. The Centre is also ready to offer experiential learning through field studies, internship opportunities, research assistantships and fellowships in the near future.
MRC's Fire pit for recaps after a day’s work. Left is Prof. Rubenstein and Right is Ms. Chloé Cipolletta, Program Director of the National Geographic East Africa Fund
The training is a grand opportunity for Makerere’s Wildlife Health and Management students change their mindsets, get exposed to quality research and improve their networks and working relationships. It follows Dr. Nasaka’s visit to Princeton University, USA in November 2014 where she met Prof. Dan Rubenstein- Head, Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology and other Professors at the Institute for Advanced Study. Through the Science Initiative Group, and RISE which funds her PhD, she was invited to visit MRC where Prof. Rubenstein also serves as a board member.

General

Veteran Professor changed Makerere and Higher Education

Published

1 day ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Professor Pancras John Mukasa Ssebuwufu (L) receives a plaque and citation from RUFORUM Board Member and Vice Chancellor Ndejje University-Professor Eriabu Lugujjo (Right) on 6th May 2021 at the RUFORUM Secretariat, Plot 155 Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus,

When Professor John Ssebuwufu ambled up to receive a certificate of recognition for his ‘exceptional’ contribution to higher education from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) at Makerere University (MU), he was thinking of many things, such as rewarding staff, that he could have done differently to impact university education more.

But he did what he could have done, under the circumstances.

He presided over MU (in 1993) when student enrolment was 5,000 and left in 2004 when the population was surging to more than 15,000.

He emphasised the use of information communication technologies in almost all the institutions he had been involved in and sent many academic staff on exchanges to boost research and innovation. Now, more African universities engage in ground-breaking research.

So, he proceeded to accept his recognition and make his acceptance speech, which was mostly about gratitude.

Ssebuwufu, 74, who is currently the chancellor at Kyambogo University and the vice-chancellor of the University of Kisubi, is credited for his exemplary leadership and pragmatic methods that have shaped higher education in Uganda and Africa as a whole.

General

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022

Published

1 day ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022. Photo credit: AfDB

The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program is a capacity building project by the AfDB and Japan which was initiated in 2017 with the aim of providing two-year scholarship awards to highly achieving African graduate students to enable them to undergo post-graduate studies (i.e. a two-year Master’s degree program) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The overarching goal the AfDB and the Government of Japan seek to attain is to enhance skills and human resources development in Africa in under the Bank’s High 5s agenda (i.e. “Feed Africa”, “Light up Africa”, “Industrialize Africa”, “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa”) and key Japanese development assistance initiatives. JADS core areas of study focus include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering. The program also seeks to promote inter-university collaboration and university-industry partnerships between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, the JADS scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the public and private sectors, and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development.

About the JADS program

The JADS Program is open to applicants from AfDB member countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a graduate degree program in energy development and related discipline. The program does not provide scholarships to any other graduate degree program.

The scholarship program provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.

Upon completion of their studies, the beneficiary scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills, and contribute to the promotion of sustainable development of their countries.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The program is open to those who have gained admission to an approved Masters degree course at a Japanese partner university. Candidates should be 35 years old or younger; in good health; with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the energy area or related area; and have a superior academic record. Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to return to their home country to contribute to its economic and social development.

Application Procedures

Applicant requests for information and application forms and procedures from the chosen JADS partner university. For any inquiries, please contact JADS@AFDB.ORG
Applicant completes required documents and sends them to the university.
University evaluates and selects applicants.
University sends selected candidates to the AfDB.
AfDB reviews submissions from universities, prepares and approves the final list.
AfDB contacts selected awardees, and informs the universities.