Strengthening South-South linkages for Innovation in Graduate training

lessons from Earth University- Costa Rica

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

What can we learn from the Earth University

Education Model to improve our training/curriculum?

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennual Conference-2012

Background

Why the Earth model?

Sustainability, education and the management ofchange in the tropics

The climate, Agro- based, leadershipdevelopment & market linkages

How relevant is this model to our situation?

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

Relevance Inter-disciplinary curriculum

Practical nature of the courses offered

Community Interaction

Internship Course & program (15 Weeks -16 credits)

Technology transfer

Entrepreneurial/business skills aspect

The value chain approach

Leadership developmentPresented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

Why CARP?

Improve the relevance and effectiveness ofagricultural education at AfricanUniversities.

Responsive and impact of universities inAgricultural development

Community engagement

Improvement to curriculum

Innovations in agriculture

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

Earth Undergraduate vis a viz CARP

Under the CARP program, students are trainedin action research at MSC & PHD levelsspecializing in specific sectors.

Earth program is broad – Agriculture ispracticed as a business

CARP is field based, research & training lead toexperiential learning and influence the teaching& learning at African Universities

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

Why was the visit necessary?

In August 2012- Post Graduate stdents from MoiUniversity- Kenya, Bunda College- Malawi,Makerere University in Uganda made a 10 dayvisit to Earth University.

Objective was to learn about the Earth UniversityEducational model and its entrepreneurshipprogram.

See what improvement to the teaching andlearning at own universities

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

What we found out The soil conservation practices-( 16 years of

practice)

Bio- intensive gardening

Peri-urban agricultural practices

Renewable energies & transfer of thesetechnologies to communities ( management ofwaste)

Entrepreneurship and development of products

Impact Assessment – Environment, social &community, Business every 2 years

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennual Conference-2012

Opportunities to strengthen the linkages & the training

Integration of Research, teaching & Practice

Innovative solutions ( mobile applications in the Value chain)

Exchange of technological ideas eg renewal energies

Socially responsible farming practices

Student professor relationship

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

Universities as learning centres -models that create opportunities for innovation and experimentation.

Commercialization of the Agriculture atuniversities

Soil improvement program- in Africa

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

What can we learn from the Earth University

Education Model to improve our training/curriculum?

Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012