ADVALUE

ADVALUE is a collaborative project involving nine universities and institutions in Europe and East Africa. Working with potential future employers of PhD students in Kenya and Uganda, the project aims to develop curricula that best prepare academic specialists in agricultural sciences for their careers. A particular focus is on strengthening capacity to develop sustainable agricultural value chains, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local and regional levels.

Research approach

Four modules for PhD students will be developed and integrated into the curricula of the partner universities in Kenya and Uganda, taking into account the experiences and expectations of local stakeholders and potential future employers. These will include the topics of "scientific work", "transdisciplinary research", "rangeland management" and "agricultural value chains".

The collaboration and exchange between the universities and representatives from the working environment, government organisations and international partners aims to strengthen the career prospects of postgraduate students in East Africa and promote their expertise with regard to the local requirements for achieving the SDGs.

Based on its experience, DITSL is particularly responsible for the development of the module on transdisciplinary research. In addition, there is a focus on aligning the curricula and project activities with the expectations of the PhD students' potential future employers.

Background

In order to find sustainable solutions to the complex social and environmental challenges facing Uganda and Kenya – such as food insecurity, rural unemployment and the effects of climate change - it is essential to modernise the training of doctoral students in agricultural and agri-environmental sciences. Future experts must not only have theoretical knowledge, but also be able to develop practical and innovative solutions through transdisciplinary approaches.

However, stakeholder involvement and transdisciplinary methods are not yet common in university education and research programmes. This is where ADVALUE comes in, aiming to contribute to effective design and development of sustainable, ecological and socially equitable agricultural value chains.

Project partner

Nürtingen-Geislingen University, Germany (NGU)

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic (CZU)

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden (SLU)

Makerere University Kampala, Uganda (MAK)

Uganda Christian University, Uganda (UCU)

University of Nairobi, Kenya (UoN)

Pwani University Kilifi, Kenya (PU)

Regional University Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, Uganda (RUFORUM)

Practice partner

European Alliance for Agricultural Knowledge for Development, Belgium (AGRINATURA)

National Agricultural Research Organisation, Uganda (NARO)