Seven years after a RUFORUM delegation met Zambia’s then Acting President, H.E. Inonge Wina, to seek the country’s support for hosting the 2026 Annual General Meeting, the Southern African nation is preparing to welcome over 1,000 delegates to discuss how African universities can translate higher agricultural education, research and innovation into tangible development outcomes.

In September 2019, a delegation from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) paid a courtesy visit to Zambia’s then Vice President and Acting President, H.E. Inonge Wina, in Lusaka. The meeting, held on 25 September on the sidelines of Zambia Higher Education Week, provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between African universities and the Zambian Government in advancing agricultural higher education and research. During the engagement, a request was made for Zambia to host RUFORUM’s 22^nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2026, an undertaking that received the Vice President’s support.

Seven years later, Zambia is preparing to fulfil that commitment as it hosts the 22^nd RUFORUM AGM from 30 November to 4 December 2026 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in the capital, Lusaka.

The meeting, which is expected to attract over 1,000 participants from across Africa and beyond, will bring together Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deans, researchers, policymakers, government representatives, development partners, private sector actors, students, innovators and farmer organisations to deliberate on the role of higher education in Africa’s agricultural transformation.

Held under the theme, “Translating higher agricultural education, innovation, and research into action for Africa’s agricultural transformation and development,” the AGM will provide a platform for African universities to reflect on their contribution to the continent’s development and explore practical approaches to strengthening education, research, innovation and partnerships. The meeting will be hosted by the Government of Zambia in partnership with four RUFORUM member universities, the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University, Mulungushi University and Kapasa Makasa University.

Strengthening the role of African universities in agricultural transformation

Established in 2004 by ten African university Vice Chancellors, RUFORUM has grown into a continental network of 175 universities across 40 African countries, working to strengthen the capacity of African universities to respond to the continent’s agricultural and development challenges. Hosted by the Government of Uganda at Makerere University, RUFORUM envisions vibrant, transformative universities that catalyse sustainable and inclusive agricultural development to feed and create prosperity for Africa. At the centre of its mandate is the recognition that African universities must go beyond teaching and awarding academic qualifications to become drivers of scientific discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship and community transformation.

Through postgraduate training, collaborative research, institutional strengthening and partnerships with governments, industry and farming communities, RUFORUM seeks to develop the human capital and scientific solutions required to transform Africa’s agriculture and agri-food systems.

Over the years, the network has championed efforts to make higher agricultural education more responsive to Africa’s development needs by strengthening graduate training, promoting research that addresses practical agricultural challenges, and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in agricultural innovation and enterprise development.

The 22^nd AGM will build on these efforts, with particular attention to how universities can translate the knowledge and technologies they generate into solutions that improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, create employment and enhance livelihoods.

Academic knowledge to practical solutions

The 2026 AGM comes at a time when African universities are increasingly being challenged to demonstrate the relevance of their training and research to the communities and economies they serve. While universities continue to produce graduates and generate scientific knowledge, questions remain about how effectively these investments are contributing to employment creation, agricultural productivity, industrialisation and sustainable development.

The Lusaka meeting will therefore examine how higher education institutions can better align their teaching, research and innovation systems with labour market demands and the changing needs of Africa’s agricultural sector. Discussions will focus on strengthening Africa’s human capital, building resilient and productive economies, harnessing university partnerships for development, and expanding opportunities for capacity sharing to train the next generation.

Particular attention will be given to transformative teaching and learning approaches that equip graduates with practical skills, entrepreneurial competencies and the capacity to develop solutions to real-world challenges. The meeting will also explore the growing role of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and other emerging innovations in reshaping higher education, agricultural research and the future of work. These discussions reflect RUFORUM’s continued commitment to positioning African universities as institutions that not only generate knowledge but also work alongside farmers, communities, governments and industry to ensure that research translates into measurable development outcomes.

Building Africa’s human capital

Human capital development remains one of RUFORUM’s central areas of investment. Since its establishment, the network has supported the training of thousands of African students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, contributing to the development of a new generation of researchers, scientists, academics and agricultural professionals.

Through its collaborative university network, RUFORUM has also promoted opportunities for African students to undertake advanced training within the continent, strengthening institutional capacity and fostering cooperation among African universities. One of its flagship initiatives, the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development programme (TAGDev), supported by the Mastercard Foundation, seeks to strengthen universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions to deliver inclusive, equitable and climate-resilient agricultural transformation. The programme promotes experiential learning, entrepreneurship, youth employment and stronger engagement between universities, communities and the private sector. Such initiatives demonstrate RUFORUM’s emphasis on ensuring that investments in higher education translate into opportunities for young Africans, particularly women and other groups whose participation in agricultural innovation and enterprise development remains critical to the continent’s future.

As delegates gather in Lusaka, the question of how African universities can produce graduates with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to transform the continent’s economies will remain central to the discussions.

Advancing Africa’s continental development agenda

The 22^nd RUFORUM AGM also comes against the backdrop of renewed continental commitments to education, science, technology, innovation and agricultural transformation. The meeting is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration and its implementation agenda for 2026–2035, as well as continental efforts to accelerate the transformation of education and skills development. These frameworks recognise the importance of strengthening Africa’s human capital, agricultural productivity, innovation capacity and institutional systems to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. For RUFORUM, the challenge is to ensure that African universities are adequately positioned to contribute to the implementation of these commitments.

The AGM will therefore provide an opportunity for university leaders, governments and development partners to examine how institutional reforms, investments in research, curriculum transformation and stronger partnerships can support the continent’s development priorities. It will also build on commitments made during the 21^st RUFORUM AGM held in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2025, where African universities pledged to strengthen their contribution to higher education transformation, scientific innovation and the generation of solutions for Africa’s development.

Showcasing African research and innovation

Beyond policy dialogue and institutional engagements, the AGM will provide a platform for showcasing agricultural technologies, research outputs, innovations and enterprise models developed by universities and their partners. The exhibition component will highlight practical solutions in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, food systems, agribusiness, value addition, digital agriculture and community-based innovation. It will also create opportunities for young innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and institutions to demonstrate how scientific knowledge can be translated into technologies, businesses and livelihood opportunities. Through these engagements, RUFORUM seeks to strengthen collaboration among universities, governments, private sector actors and farming communities, while encouraging the adoption and scaling of innovations that address Africa’s agricultural challenges.

Zambia takes centre stage

For Zambia, hosting the 22^nd RUFORUM AGM represents an opportunity to contribute to the continental conversation on the future of agricultural higher education and to strengthen its collaboration with African universities and development partners. The meeting also brings renewed significance to the September 2019 engagement between RUFORUM and the country’s leadership, which helped lay the foundation for Zambia’s hosting of the continental gathering. With preparations underway, Lusaka is set to become a meeting point for African university leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators and development partners seeking to advance a shared vision of universities as engines of agricultural transformation and economic development. More importantly, the gathering will provide an opportunity to move beyond discussions about the potential of African universities and focus on the practical actions, investments and partnerships needed to realise that potential.

As RUFORUM continues to champion transformative higher agricultural education across Africa, the 22^nd AGM will reinforce a central message that the true value of university education, research and innovation lies not only in the knowledge generated, but in how that knowledge is applied to improve livelihoods, create opportunities and contribute to Africa’s development.

For more information and registration, visit the official 22^nd RUFORUM AGM website: https://agm.ruforum.org/register

Makerere University proudly celebrates the recognition of Mr. Mordecai Tayebwa, Senior Grants Manager, Makerere University Lung Institute and Ms. Bonny Tusiime, Grants and Contracts Officer, Makerere University College of Health of Sciences (MakCHS) as recipients of the prestigious Future of the Field Award of Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI), an international recognition that Honors emerging leaders making outstanding contributions to the advancement of research administration. This year’s ‘Future of the Field’ honorees were formally recognized at SRAI’s Annual Meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA in October, 2026.

The Future of the Field Award recognizes professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to strengthening research management and administration. The award celebrates individuals whose work is shaping the future of the profession by improving research support systems, fostering collaboration, and advancing excellence in research administration.

At Makerere University, Mr. Tayebwa and Ms. Tusiime have played key roles in strengthening grants and contracts management, supporting researchers throughout the grant lifecycle, promoting compliance with sponsor requirements, and contributing to the development of sustainable research management systems. Their efforts have enhanced institutional capacity to attract, manage, and administer competitive research funding while ensuring accountability and excellence. Commenting on the recognition, the award recipients expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of research administration. “This recognition reflects not only our individual efforts but also the collaborative environment at  MakCHS and Makerere University. It inspires us to continue strengthening research administration and supporting researchers in generating impactful scientific discoveries that improve lives.” They said.

The achievement highlights the growing international recognition of research administration professionals in Africa and underscores Makerere University and MakCHS’s  general commitment to building strong research support systems that enable world-class research. This also reflects the institution’s investment in professional development and its dedication to advancing research excellence through effective grants management.

Commenting on the award, Dara C. Little, President, (SRAI) said “In a field as dynamic and rapidly evolving as research administration, the need for visionary,adaptable leaders have never been greater,” . “SRAI’s Future of the Field recipients represent the next generation of changemakers – those who will not only navigate complexity but shape the future of our profession. To embrace change, is to lead your innovation, resilience, and leadership are exactly what this moment demands. Rise to the opportunity and you will do great things!”

Makerere University congratulates Mr. Mordecai Tayebwa and Ms. Bonny Tusiime on this significant achievement and wishes them continued success as they contribute to shaping the future of research administration both regionally and globally

The Unit-Based ORCID Sensitization and System Capture of Researcher Identification Workshop was held on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, commencing at 9:00 a.m. at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, Makerere University. The workshop was facilitated by the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU).

The workshop was opened by Prof. Robert Wamala – Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP). In his remarks, Prof. Wamala emphasised the importance of ORCID in strengthening researcher identification, improving the visibility and discoverability of Makerere University‘s research outputs, and ensuring accurate attribution of scholarly contributions.

Prof. Wamala highlighted the need to move beyond individual ORCID registration towards systematic institutional adoption, including the accurate capture and validation of researchers’ ORCID identifiers in relevant University information systems. He underscored the importance of coordinated implementation at unit level, recognising the critical roles of College Librarians, Library staff and the Directorate of Graduate Training in supporting ORCID adoption among academic staff, researchers and graduate students.

Prof. Wamala appreciated RENU for facilitating the engagement and encouraged participants to translate the knowledge gained into practical action within their respective units. The workshop marked an important step in Makerere University‘s efforts to strengthen researcher identification, improve research visibility and enhance the institutional management and tracking of scholarly outputs.

The opening session also featured remarks from the University Librarian Prof. Ruth Nalumaga and Dr. Cyprian Misinde, the Director of Quality Assurance, who underscored the importance of ORCID in strengthening research visibility, scholarly communication and institutional research information management. Their contributions highlighted the need for collaboration across the Library, Quality Assurance, Graduate Training and DRIP to support effective ORCID adoption and integration into University processes.

The workshop provided an opportunity to sensitise participants on ORCID and strengthen their capacity to support its adoption and system capture within their respective units. The participation of College Librarians, Library staff and the Directorate of Graduate Training was particularly strategic in supporting researchers and graduate students to establish and maintain their ORCID profiles.

The workshop was attended by College Librarians and Library Staff; Representatives from the Directorate of Graduate Training; Directorate of Quality Assurance and the Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships. Their participation was intended to strengthen awareness, institutional coordination and practical support for ORCID adoption across the University.

The engagement, marked a collaborative step towards institutionalizing ORCID at Makerere University and strengthening the University’s capacity to identify, track and showcase its research contributions globally.