General

RUFORUM: Institutional Capability Statement

Published

4 years ago

February 17, 2020

Mark Wamai

The RUFORUM Secretariat, Plot 151, Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus, Kampala Uganda.

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is a network of African universities. Until 2004, the Network had operated as a programme of the Rockefeller Foundation beginning in 1992 known as Forum for Agricultural Resource Husbandry (FORUM). FORUM focused on capacity building to enhance food and nutrition security, working with faculties of agriculture in 10 Universities in five countries (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe).

RUFORUM is now registered in Uganda as an International Non‐Governmental Organisation (NGO) with a membership of 126 universities in 38 countries across the African continent. Membership to RUFORUM is open to African postgraduate degree-awarding institutions with faculties, schools, institutes or equivalent units in the field of agriculture and related sciences and those offering science, technology and innovation programmes.

Why RUFORUM exists

Institutionally, RUFORUM aims to:

Foster integration of African universities into the national agricultural innovation systems (NAIS).
Provide a platform for training quality graduates to support development processes in Africa.
Rationalise resource use and enhance economies of scale and scope.
Provide a platform for networking, resource mobilisation and advocacy for agricultural higher education, science, Technology and Innovation in Africa

To achieve the above aims, RUFORUM developed its Vision 2030 Strategy through a wide‐ranging consultative prioritization and consensus building process among the member universities and other actors from within and outside Africa for implementing the three strategic goals.

Inclusiveness – by promoting both a balance in the gender of researchers (faculty, student and partner agencies) and in the inclusion of a gender perspective in the project proposals;
Social responsibility – by promoting links with, and understanding of, conditions in rural areas and to expose students and faculty to the rewards of service through the projects supported;
Long-term change – through a focus on systemic change and capacity building;
Sustainability – through awareness of the environmental impact of the proposed research
Diversity – by recognizing and valuing differences and similarities in perspectives, by ensuring an appropriate balance between generic and disciplinary approaches to problem solving;
Creativity – by providing faculty and students with opportunities to develop innovative solutions both in addressing the problems faced by smallholder farmers, and in managing research projects in remote areas;
Collaboration – through the multi-agency teams encouraged through the CARP and to a lesser extent the GRG. Through these teams RUFORUM is dedicated to the emergence of pro-active networks and better communication which is further consolidated through the establishment of a National Forum;
Excellence – through an independent selection of the best proposals and a mentoring and monitoring system to ensure quality in its programs and awards, through encouraging such systems in all member faculties, and through building the reputation of the research and networking that emerges from the CGS;
Equity – by investing in the member institutions which are under-represented in grant awards so that they may compete effectively in the future; and,
Enhanced human capital – by encouraging timely graduation and commitment to serving African development

The RUFORUM Secretariat is located at Plot 151, Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus, Kampala Uganda. Tel: +256-417-713-300, Email: secretariat[at]ruforum.org, Website: www.ruforum.org

General

Makerere University Students’ Internship Evaluation

Published

7 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Mak Editor

An older photo of the Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda as seen from across the Freedom Square. Date taken: 22nd October 2012.

To all Makerere Students Undertaking Internship 2024

I hope you are well. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we invite you to participate in the evaluation of your internship experience at Makerere University. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us enhance the quality of our internship programs.

Purpose of Data Collection: The purpose of this evaluation is to monitor the effectiveness of the internship process within Makerere University. By collecting data on your experiences, we aim to identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to enhance the overall internship structures and processes.

Confidentiality and Privacy: Rest assured that your responses will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. No personal information will be shared with anyone other than the Quality Assurance (QAD) Team. Only aggregate results will be disseminated to the University and colleges for the purpose of program enhancement.

Your Voice Matters: We encourage you to provide candid feedback. Your insights will help shape the future of internships at Makerere University. Feel free to express yourself openly, especially in the final open-ended questions. Describe your experiences, challenges, and any changes you encountered during your internship journey.

How to Participate: Complete the questions below this information sheet.

Your participation is crucial, and we appreciate your contribution to improving the internship program. Thank you for being an active part of our community and for helping us create a positive impact.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to the QAD Team at info.qad@mak.ac.ug , director.qad@mak.ac.ug, stephen.mpirirwe@mak.ac.ug, Phone: 0788961314 or 0776499859.

Best regards,

Dr. Cyprian Misinde,
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE

Click here to evaluate your internship experience

General

Call for Applications: Third U.S.-Africa Frontiers Symposium

Published

1 week ago

June 28, 2024

Mak Editor

Call for Applications: Third U.S.-Africa Frontiers Symposium Kigali, Rwanda, February 18-20, 2025. Photo: Courtesy.

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is pleased to announce the 3^rdU.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium in partnership with and hosted by the Republic of Rwanda. The upcoming meeting will be held on February 18-20, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. The application is now open for scientists, engineers, and medical professionals from the United States and African Union member countries to submit their application online before the deadline of July 7, 2024, 11:59 PM ET (Washington D.C. time).

This program brings together outstanding early/mid-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals (within 15 years of most recent degree), from the United States and the member countries of the African Union for a series of symposia to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in their fields. The goal of these meetings is to enhance scientific exchange and dialogue among early-to-middle career researchers in African countries and the United States, including the African science diaspora, and through this interaction facilitate research collaboration within and beyond the region. Another unique aspect of the Frontiers events is the pluri-disciplinarity of the participants’ backgrounds and research interests.

One of the main objectives of this Frontiers symposium is to advance our understanding of cutting-edge S&T trends in the U.S. and Africa and to foster dialogue and collaborations across disciplines. The upcoming symposium will address the following topics:

Session I: New Solutions for Decarbonization
Session II: Biotechnology
Session III: Precision Agriculture
Session IV: Advances in Space Research
Session V: Smart and Connected Cities

We encourage early-career scientists, engineers and medical professionals working on related research to apply to this multidisciplinary meeting, as long as they fulfill the eligibility criteria. Each general participant will also have the opportunity to present their research during poster sessions. Travel of selected participants will be covered. More details on the symposium, organization, and program can be found on the symposium webpage.

Please submit your application online by 11:59 PM ET on July 7, 2024. For more information on the U.S.-Africa Frontiers Program, please visit our program website. Please email USAfricaSTEM@nas.edu with any questions.

APPLY BY JULY 7

General

Call for scholarship applications for PhDs and MSc positions in the framework of the Intra Africa Homegrown Clean Energy Project

Published

1 week ago

June 27, 2024

Mak Editor

Some of the CAES PhD graduates with the Chair of the University Ceremonies Committee, also member of staff at the College, Prof. Jackie Bonabana (Right). 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 2, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), 30th January 2024, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Homegrown Clean Energy Project:

Mobility for Clean Energy Solutions to promote energy independence and environmental well-being through collaboration and innovation, addressing climate challenges across Africa.

Background:

Africa, a continent brimming with potential, faces a critical challenge: ensuring energy access and tackling climate change. Over 50% of its population lacks electricity, and relying on unsustainable practices threatens their health and the environment. Yet, Africa possesses a wealth of untapped renewable resources – a golden key to unlocking a brighter future.
The Homegrown Clean Energy (HCE) Solutions Project steps in to address these challenges with a vision driven by African ingenuity. We are empowering universities, the private sector, and local communities to develop clean energy solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The objectives of Homegrown Clean Energy:

Promote the development of Homegrown Clean Energy (HCE) solutions for underrepresented communities.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer among participating institutions.
Enhance entrepreneurship skills in clean energy solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa.
Promote gender equality and social inclusion in clean energy solutions.

Participating Institutions:

Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMIN), Nigeria
Makerere University, Uganda
University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin
Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Uganda
University of Nigeria (UNN), Nigeria
University of Zimbabwe (UoZ)

Application Documents:

Filled Application Form
CV
A three-page proposal document

See Downloads for detailed application.

How to Apply for the Scholarship:

To apply: click here to apply: Masters https://bit.ly/HCE_MScApply
To apply: click here to apply: PhD https://bit.ly/HCE_PhDApply

Application Deadline

The deadline for the application is 27^th July 2024 by Midnight GMT +1. Results will be announced on September 3, 2024

Contact Details

For further enquiries or guidance required kindly contact the following.

FUT Minna – Caroline Alenoghena; carol@futminna.edu.ng +234 8035015984
UNN- Cynthia Nwobodo; cynthia.nwobodo@unn.edu.ng +234 803 946 2574
MAK– Grace Nakabonge; grace.nakabonge@mak.ac.ug +256 782356607
UMU- Dr Robinah S. Nakabo; rnakabo@umu.ac.ug +256 776 802981
UAC- Michel Dossou; michel.dossou@uac.bj +229 97 54 27 44
UoZ- Dr Blessing Magonziwa; blessing.magonziwa21@alumni.colostate.edu. +263 775990146

HCE-Call-for-scholarship-applications-for-PhDs-and-MSc-positions Download