Higher Education Partnerships for African Development (HEPAD): Long-term Training for Regional Agricultural Development in East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

   The HEPAD Project is designed to strengthen the capacity of East African Faculties of Agriculture (FOAs) to improve smallholder agricultural productivity.  Regional FOAs can make a vital contribution to improving smallholder productivity and food security through their research, training and outreach activities. 

     The HEPAD Project will help FOAs meet this challenge by providing 12 sandwich degree programs consisting of graduate course work at OSU/MSU and in-country research.  Additionally, four faculty development activities will be provided in the region. 

     Project partners include The Ohio State University (OSU) as the lead university; Michigan State University (MSU); Faculties of Agriculture at Makerere University (Uganda), Egerton University (Kenya), Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania); and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), an established NGO which is headquartered at Makerere University and serves as the regional coordinating unit.  The project is supported by USAID through a cooperative agreement with the Higher Education for Development (HED) organization.

Objectives: 

• 12 sandwich degrees                                      

Ø       Six at The Ohio State University

Ø       Six at Michigan State University

• Strengthen linkages between agribusiness and FOAs                                     

Ø       Workshops at each regional campus

Ø       12 MSc level agribusiness internships            

• Build cross-regional synergies among Faculty of Agriculture in the region

• Faculty development workshops

Ø       Survey research methods and data

Ø       Computer-based teaching  materials development for  econometrics and production agriculture

Ø       Increase research interests among FOAs on impacts of HIV/AIDS

       §         Strengthen long term historical partnerships between OSU/MSU and  regional Faculties of Agriculture

Ø       Regional mentor visits to USA

Ø      OSU/MSU mentor visits to regional  partners

 USA Partners

              Ø      The Ohio State University

              Ø      Michigan State University 

Regional Partners

                Ø      Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture 

          Ø      Egerton University/Faculty of Agriculture, Kenya

          Ø      Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania 

          Ø      Makerere University/Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda

 

The Ohio State University  College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences    Office of International  Education