Presentation made at the Ruforum Biennial Conference- Entebbe Uganda

1. Strengthening South-South linkages for
Innovation in Graduate training
lessons from Earth University- Costa Rica
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

2. What can we learn from the Earth University
Education Model to improve our
training/curriculum?
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennual Conference-2012

3. Background
 Why the Earth model?
 Sustainability, education and the management of
change in the tropics
 The climate, Agro- based, leadership
development & market linkages
 How relevant is this model to our situation?
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

4. Relevance
 Inter-disciplinary curriculum
 Practical nature of the courses offered
 Community Interaction
 Internship Course & program (15 Weeks -
16 credits)
 Technology transfer
 Entrepreneurial/business skills aspect
 The value chain approach
 Leadership developmentPresented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

5. Why CARP?
 Improve the relevance and effectiveness of
agricultural education at African
Universities.
 Responsive and impact of universities in
Agricultural development
 Community engagement
 Improvement to curriculum
 Innovations in agriculture
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

6. Earth Undergraduate vis a viz
CARP
 Under the CARP program, students are trained
in action research at MSC & PHD levels
specializing in specific sectors.
 Earth program is broad – Agriculture is
practiced as a business
 CARP is field based, research & training lead to
experiential learning and influence the teaching
& learning at African Universities
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

7. Why was the visit necessary?
 In August 2012- Post Graduate stdents from Moi
University- Kenya, Bunda College- Malawi,
Makerere University in Uganda made a 10 day
visit to Earth University.
 Objective was to learn about the Earth University
Educational model and its entrepreneurship
program.
 See what improvement to the teaching and
learning at own universities
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

8. What we found out
 The soil conservation practices-( 16 years of
practice)
 Bio- intensive gardening
 Peri-urban agricultural practices
 Renewable energies & transfer of these
technologies to communities ( management of
waste)
 Entrepreneurship and development of products
 Impact Assessment – Environment, social &
community, Business every 2 years
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM
Biennual Conference-2012

9. Opportunities to strengthen the
linkages & the training
 Integration of Research, teaching & Practice
 Innovative solutions ( mobile applications
in the Value chain)
 Exchange of technological ideas eg renewal
energies
 Socially responsible farming practices
 Student professor relationship
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

10.  Universities as learning centres -models
that create opportunities for innovation
and experimentation.
 Commercialization of the Agriculture at
universities
 Soil improvement program- in Africa
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012

11. What can we learn from the Earth University
Education Model to improve our
training/curriculum?
Presented by J C Achora at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference-2012