Training the Next Generation of PhD Graduates in African Universities: Reflection on collaboration between RUFORUM and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, 2012-2022

Abstract

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM, www.ruforum.org) is a network of 163 universities in 40 African countries spanning all the five regions of the African continent. RUFORUM was established to promote the integration of member universities into Africa’s development processes, particularly within the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP); provide a platform for networking, resource mobilization and advocacy to transform universities for relevance towards inclusive sustainable development; and to rationalize resource use and enhance economies of scale and scope. The RUFORUM Network is mandated to strengthen the quality and relevance of postgraduate training and research in African universities especially in agriculture, science, technology, and innovation through activities designed to improve the capacity of African universities and research centres to generate knowledge relevant to Africa’s development challenges. RUFORUM acknowledges that contribution to global knowledge in all spheres by scientists from Africa requires graduate training at Masters and Doctoral levels. Hence in 2012, RUFORUM entered into partnership with Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) to launch its Post-Doctoral Training Programme and to support research of Doctoral and Masters Students. To date a total of 39 Post-Doctoral Fellowships and 294 Doctoral research grants were funded. Special emphasis was placed on supporting University Faculty staff pursuing Doctoral training especially female academics. The support from CCNY enabled RUFORUM to leverage funding from other sources such as the Intra-African Academic Mobility Programme, amongst others. Staff who have graduated are now helping to strengthen training and research programmes in their home institutions.