Making good use of his presence in the Netherlands, Wageningen International has invited Dr Paul Kibwika of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) in Uganda, to share with us some thoughts and experiences on academic education for in the agricultural sciences.
Dr. Kibwika’s presentation is intended to contribute to the ongoing debate on how best to train higher degree graduates who can accelerate improvement in well-being of society and contribute to a sustainable world in which they live. Higher degrees, particularly at PhD-level tend to emphasize theoretical analyses and methodological manipulations over the application of those theories and methodologies to bring about the desired change in society. It is indisputable that a typical PhD graduate knows a lot but cannot do as much. But society expects these graduates to provide guidance into a better world.
Action research however, even though it still attracts criticism in the "conventional" academia, provides opportunities for analytical engagement in change and it bridges the knowing and the doing. It also creates a mind frame and necessity for developing a broader range of competencies that enhance systems to adapt and cope with changing contexts and demands –the basis of innovation systems. This presentation shares personal experience of an action-oriented PhD research at Wageningen University and the value of broadening competencies for facilitating change. The presentation will also show how this work has inspired on-going efforts to transform agricultural education and institutional development for relevance in the RUFORUM universities in East, Central and Southern Africa. Transformation for relevance however demands stronger partnerships between European and African Universities, not only to learn from each other but also to collectively pursue possibly radical institutional arrangements that may lead to joint degree awards, among other things.
Venue: Forum Building, Conference room C222, Droevendaalsesteeg 2 (building 102) Wageningen
Please register your interest with Mrs. Lonneke Budel at Wageningen International:
lonneke.budel@wur.nl
before 9 March 2009.