The objectives of the study include;
The UPLIFT-Ag will support a multilateral partnership to implement actions that will improve the relevance, quality, modernization and responsiveness of agricultural higher education in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Zimbabwe such that they:
- Collaborate and partner effectively with industry and other sector actors in executing their mandates for increased impact;
- Implement improved teaching methods and approaches integrated into innovative curricula to provide a competency based agriculture education that transfers technical and soft skills effectively;
- Conduct high quality research and innovation and are able to harvest, protect and commercialize their IP successfully.
- support capacity building among innovation hubs in academic and research centers and other entrepreneurial support organizations seeking to serve climate-focused entrepreneurs.
The project partners are:
Kenyatta University, Chuka University, Taita Taveta University in Kenya; University of Rwanda and University of Lay Adventists of Kigali in Rwanda; Université de Ngozi and Université du Burundi in Burundi; Chinhoyi University of Technology and Zimbabwe Open University in Zimbabwe; Hochschule Neu Ulm in Germany; Universita' Politecnica delle Marche in Italy and University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The project will be implemented in close collaboration with private sector actors and other development practitioners in each of the four African countries. The lead industry anchor in Kenya is the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.,
The amount awarded: 789,900 Euro by EUROPEAN EDUCATION AND CULTURE EXECUTIVE AGENCY, Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education programme.
The 3 year project is coordinated at Kenyatta University, by Prof. Maina Mwangi of the Department of Agricultural Science and Technology and Director, Innovation Incubation and Industry Linkages.