The enhanced engagement of University actors with the private sector

18 October 2016. The RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM) noted that RUFORUM is now a continental organisation with the inclusion of the first North African member university – the University of Cairo – which was officially welcomed along with nine other new member institutions. 

Prof. Dr. Hany El-Shemy,
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University

The RUFORUM Strategic and Business Plan for 2015-2020 envisages an enhanced engagement of University actors along the whole value chain, including sister organizations and the private sector in mutually beneficial research and training to accelerate delivery of agricultural science-based innovations.

PAEPARD interviewed Prof. Dr. Hany El-Shemy of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University on the curriculum revision , its challenges and the collaboration with the private sector.

Questions:

• What is the purpose of the curriculum revision?
• What have been the biggest challenges of this curriculum revision?
• Are farmers and private sector represented in the Faculty Council?
• How do you attract EC funding and researchers from the European Union?
• What about the collaboration with Sub Saharan Africa?

Related:

Strengthening University Capacity to Enhance Competitiveness of Agribusiness in Eastern and West Africa. 

This project (2013-2016) is funded with the support of the European Union through the African Caribbean Pacific Group of States EDULINK 11. It is a partnership and collaboration between Egerton University, Kenya, Mekelle University, Ethiopia, Gulu University, Uganda, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, RUFORUM, KENFAP and ICRA.

Objectives: 

• Re-orient agricultural teaching in universities towards entrepreneurship in order to improve on the quality of agricultural science graduates so as to catalyze development and social transformation.
• Improve the relevance of agricultural science teaching and outreach to the needs of agribusiness.
• Impart entrepreneurial skills to University agricultural science students in Eastern and West Africa to enable them to be competitive in the job market.
• Induce rural transformation through smallholder agricultural transformation and agri-enterprise development.