UNIVERSITY DEANS OF AGRICULTURE FORUM LAUNCH 

                     REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY DEANS OF AGRICULTURE FORUM LAUNCH 

                                     DURING THE 4TH NATIONAL AGRICULTURE SUMMIT 

                                       HELD 1ST -2ND OCTOBER,2024 AT KICC, NAIROBI

Theme: Embracing Sustainability: Innovation, Research and Competitiveness in Agriculture

                                                             October 2, 2024

INTRODUCTION

The 4th edition of the National Agriculture Summit held at KICC on 1st and 2nd October 2024 brought together stakeholders in the Agriculture sector. The summit offers a vital platform for policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics to exchange ideas and collaborate. The summit is organised by Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) the voice of Kenyan Agriculture. One of the strategic objectives for this year's summit was to support the formation of the first University Agriculture Deans forum. The formation of the forum was also facilitated by the Universities Promoting Linkages For Impactful Training, Innovation and Technology Transfer in AgricuIture (UPLIFT-Ag) project. The UPLIFT-Ag project is a consortium of twelve universities in Africa and Europe that include Kenyatta University, Chuka University and Taita Taveta University.

The morning session of the summit's second day, 2nd October 2024, was dedicated to a panel discussion on academia-industry linkages and a side event for the Deans of Agriculture. The panel discussants were Dr.Kevit Desai (former Principal Secretary responsible for TVET) and currently Co-Chair of the Kantaria Agricultural Technology and Innovation Center (KATIC), Mr. Wachira Kaguongo (CEO of National Potato Council), Prof. Miriam Kinyua (world-renowned wheat breeder) and Prof.Stephen Wambugu (former Dean of Agriculture at Chuka University). Together, we explored "Bridging the Gap: Academia, Research, and Industry-Towards a Knowledge-Driven Agricultural Economy". Key themes that came out of the discussion included (i) the need for academic institutions to influence policy and funding conversations, (ii) the critical role that commodity-based organizations are playing in supporting academic institutions (iii) the importance of a functional reward system to support agricultural academics and (iv) the opportunities available to reduce bureaucracy in academic institutions for a profitable academia-research-industry linkage. The KATIC model funded by Elgon Kenya was a highlight. In addition, the KATIC is open for use by all universities. The discussions fed to the first-ever Deans of Agriculture Forum that was inaugurated with the support of ASNET and the UPLIFT-AG project. The Deans forum in collaboration with ASNET is a first of its kind in Kenya for academia-research-industry linkage.

During the side even event, the forum for the Deans of Agriculture in Kenyan Universities was established and the forum was formally launched later at the Summit plenary. Present during the side event were Dr. Bimal Kantaria (Chairman, ASNET), Ms.Agatha Thuo (CEO, ASNET) Dr. Kevit Desai(Co-Chair, Agricultural Technology Innovation Center at KATIC).

                     Participants during the launch of the Deans' of Agriculture Forum

1. UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTED

     1. Chuka University

     2. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

     3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

     4. Karatina University

     5. Kenya Methodist University

     6. Kenyatta University

     7. Laikipia University

     8. Machakos University

     9. Maseno University

     10. Meru University of Science and Technology

     11. Moi University

     12. Mount Kenya University

     13. Pwani University

     14. South Eastern Kenya University

     15. St. Paul's University

     16. Taita Taveta University

     17. University of Eldoret

     18. University of Embu

     19. University of Kabianga

     20. University of Nairobi

2. PRESENTATIONS

Several presentations were made to provide a background to the work done so far in preparing for the Deans' Forum and also to project possible future themes. The presentations were:

     i. ASNET role in coordinating the agriculture Industry - Agatha Thuo CEO, ASNET

     ii. UPLIFT-Ag project: Strengthening University-Industry Linkages (Work package 2) - Prof.Stephen Wambugu, Chuka University

     iii. Industry perspective and experience working with universities - Dr. Kevit Desai, Co-Chair, Agricultural Technology Innovation Center at KATIC

     iv. University experience working with industry - Prof.Catherine Kunyanga, Associate Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi

     v. Best practices to sustain impactful linkages - Prof.Miriam Kinyua, Eldoret University

     vi. Opportunities and strategies for policy engagement at a global level: The role of Deans - Dr.Joseph Karugia, Principal Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

3.GROUP DISCUSSIONS

Part of the deliberation in the Deans' side event was to discuss two issues that will form part of the initial focus for the Deans:

Topic 1: Institutionalizing the coordination of Deans of Agriculture in Kenyan Universities.

Topic 2: Measures to bolster collaborations with industry for teaching and research.

The Deans present divided into two groups to discuss the issues. The reports below summarise the proceedings of the two groups.

Group 1:Institutionalizing the coordination of Deans of Agriculture in Kenyan Universities

Name of the Forum

The team suggested the name for the forum to be "Deans' of Agriculture Forum'

1. Governance

• It was suggested that there was a need for a steering committee. The committee to consist of seven members zoned from Universities in different regions of the country.
• Membership of the Forum will be open to deans both in private and public universities
• There was a need for a secretariat and members suggested that the office be domiciled at Kenyatta University
• ASNET to be represented in the Forum's governance structure
• Comprehensive stakeholder analysis to be done.
• Selection of an advisory team to the Forum was suggested as an important part of the governance. This advisory team will composed of Vice Chancellors in universities that offer agriculture courses
• A constitution to be developed to guide the forum moving forward
• Members agreed to develop a concept about the Deans forum before actualizing the full constitution

2. Proposed Terms of Reference for the Forum

• To strengthen industry-academia linkage
• Enhance practical training for students in institutions of higher learning
• Accelerate industry-driven research
• Strengthen innovation and industrialization that is key in the new education model as the education sector transitions from Curriculum 3.0 to Curriculum 4.0 to prepare graduates for the fourth industrial revolution.
• Promote youth engagement in agriculture
• Advocacy to popularize agriculture and related disciplines among young scholars

3. Sustainability

To ensure sustainability of the Forum, the following were suggested:

• Registration in the Forum is to be done at a fee
• Annual subscription for membership
• Fundraising and identification of other avenues of financial support

4. Way forward

• Establish a database of all Deans of Agriculture in public and private universities
• The group members appointed Dr. Wasike from Maseno University to convene the next meeting.

Group 2: Measures to bolster collaborations with industry for teaching, research and outreach/extension

     1. To establish a formal communication channel for the Deans Forum. This will facilitate engagement beyond the current WhatsApp group.

     2. Continuous and formalized industry stakeholder involvement/engagement in curriculum review and development especially to align with CBC/CBET requirements

     3. Joint conferences and exhibitions with industry.

     4. Open days/seminars for in-depth engagement with industry for academia and industry to understand each other's needs.

     5. Incorporate multiple student attachments for students to be widely exposed and learn from different/diverse sectors

     6. Negotiate favorable terms of attachment/internship/apprenticeship between industry and academia e.g. work-study programs 

     7. Continuous benchmarking with the industry to track the relevance of academic programs

     8. Hold regular career talks and mentorship programs in partnership with industry.

     9. Co-sharing (joint sharing) of labs and other facilities through MoU's / MoA's for students to access facilities.

     10. Emphasize the facilitative role of ASNET in the academia-industry role by establishing a desk at ASNET to support academia-industry linkages

     11. Invest in joint academia-industry proposal writing with the support of ASNET.

     12. Encourage academia to specialize and offer unique value propositions that would attract industry players who need research and development services.

     13. Institutionalize opportunities for guest lecturers from the industry by inviting industry specialists to co-teach in specific areas on a CSR basis. This will bring new ideas and technologies into academia.

     14. Explore and design a reward system that the industries can give to their staff who provide services to academia.

     15. Translation of research findings to a more accessible format to the general public in various forums.

     16. Institutionalize sabbatical for academia to industry at regular intervals

     17. Make continuous professional (CPD) a requirement for academia to keep up with current developments

4. INTERIM COORDINATION STRUCTURE

4.1 The Deans present nominated the following members to form an interim committee

     i. Chair-Kenyatta University

     ii. Secretary-University of Nairobi

     iii. Nyanza Region-Jaramogi Oginga Odinga

     iv. Western Region-Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

     v. Coast Region-Taita Taveta University

     vi. Eastern Region-Chuka University

     vii. Eastern Region-South Eastern Kenya University

     viii. Private Universities- Mt. Kenya University

     ix. ASNET Co-opted Representative-Prof.Miriam Kinyua

Report compiled by Dr. Mwamburi Mcharo (Taita Taveta University) and Dr. Grace Abucheli (Chuka University).

The Deans of Agriculture Forum-Kenya is convened with the support of the UPLIFT-Agriculture project, funded by the European Union Erasmus + Grant no. 101129421 coordinated by Pro.Maina Mwangi at Kenyatta Uninersity. For further details please visit  https://uplift-ag.org