Latest Updates

The RUFORUM Network is organising a half day dialogue /webinar to develop a roadmap towards actioning university and research institutions contribution towards strengthening Africa’s Food Systems. The dialogue will bring together Universities, Research Institutions, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the African Union Commission (AUC). There will be simultaneous translation... Continue Reading →

Background The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), established by ten Vice Chancellors in 2004, is a consortium of 155 African universities operating within 38 countries spanning the African continent. RUFORUM is registered as an International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and has a mandate to oversee graduate training and networks of specialization in... Continue Reading →

The RUFORUM Secretariat hosted a delegation from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) at their offices located at Makerere University Main Campus on 11th August 2022. The Delegation was led by the Director General His Excellence Dr. Sidi Ould Tah and included Dr. Diab Karrar, Director for Operations and Dr. Mohamed Elhafedh... Continue Reading →

Preamble “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, He will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6. Whatever we do on earth including farming, it is supposed to be done for the sake of God’s glory and for man’s pleasure and... Continue Reading →

The Department of Agriculture in the Free State University held the Youth in Agriculture fishery and forestry (YAFF) Awards in June 2022. The YAFF award was introduced by the National Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development and forms part of the department’s strategy to develop 2500 youth owned enterprises country wide. Chantelle de... Continue Reading →

ABOUT US Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) was established when the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande in terms of section 20 of the Higher Education Act 1997 (Act 101 of 1997), promulgated the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in the SA Government Gazette no: 37658 of 16 May 2014.... Continue Reading →

The RUFORUM Board Executive Committee at its sitting of 28th July 2022 agreed on the venues for the RUFORUM Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Triennial Conferences for the period 2023 – 2030. The 2023 AGM will be hosted by the Government of Cameroon and the five RUFORUM Member Universities in Cameroon. Subsequently, the 2024 Triennial... Continue Reading →

Professor Theresia Nkuo-Akenji, RUFORUM Board Chair and Vice Chancellor University of Bamenda in Cameroon today announced the appointment of Dr. Patrick Okori as the next RUFORUM Executive Secretary effective 01 January 2023. He will replace Prof. Adipala Ekwamu who has been serving as the Executive Secretary since the founding of RUFORUM in 2004 by 10... Continue Reading →

The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is one of the nine faculties at Kabale University. Kabale University started as a community University in 2001 but was later taken up by the Government of Uganda in 2015. The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences started in 2019 with only 63 students and two undergraduate programs,... Continue Reading →

The AGM will be an opportunity to forge new partnerships, network, discuss emerging issues, share lessons and establish the potential to adopt best practices across the 150 RUFORUM member universities from 38 African countries. This 2022 AGM will be organized under the theme: “Strengthening Africa’s Agri-food Systems in the Post COVID-19 Era – Opportunities and... Continue Reading →

Feeding the African continent with sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to its ever-growing population in a manner that reduces malnutrition and promote good health is one of the major concerns that has existed and continues to exist in the twenty-first century. The FAO acknowledges food security to exist when all people, at all times, have... Continue Reading →

The University of Juba in South Sudan in partnership with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), have officially launched a PhD programme in Natural Resources and Environmental Management. The function was held at University of Juba’s Samani Hall on 22nd July 2022. It was attended by the Representative of the Ministry... Continue Reading →

Lors de la réunion annuelle des Vice-Chanceliers / Présidents / Directeurs de Section / Recteurs des Universités Membres de RUFORUM (voir les liens sur le Dépliant de RUFORUM et l’Aperçu de RUFORUM) qui s’est tenue le 11 novembre 2020, les ViceChanceliers ont réaffirmé leur engagement envers le Programme d’Assistanat d’Enseignement Supérieur (GTA) qu’ils ont initié... Continue Reading →

During the annual meeting of Vice Chancellors/Presidents/Principals/Rectors of RUFORUM Member Universities (see links about RUFORUM flier and RUFORUM at a Glance) held on 11th November 2020, the Vice Chancellors re-affirmed their commitment to the Graduate Teaching Assistantship Program that they initiated in 2014. The objectives of the GTA are to: i) Improve the quality of... Continue Reading →

Sunday World Young scientists show us the future (South Africa) Innovation-driven entrepreneurship was put under the microscope this week as young researchers and scientists from all over South Africa came together to present solutions to the country’s problems at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Council’s (CSIR) seventh Emerging Research Symposium in Pretoria. From... Continue Reading →

Introduction Development of National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) has become a world-wide phenomenon and a major global trend in reforming national education and training systems. The reasons for adoption and implementation of NQFs are many and varied. Most of the countries that have adopted a NQF are concerned with the poor articulation between qualifications and actual... Continue Reading →

Universities play a critical role in community transformation by creating demand-driven research and development solutions that address emerging challenges such as nutrition, food security, increasing household income, and youth skilling in Africa. It is important that universities while fulfilling their role encourage better access for students from poor or rural backgrounds as well. In 2016,... Continue Reading →

University World News Microcredentials: A new category of education is rising (Global) At the core of the traditional higher education system is a degree. However, over the past decade, enrolment in four-year degree programmes has steadily declined in the United States and, more recently, this trend has spilled over into emerging markets. Administrators, policymakers and... Continue Reading →

Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is a comprehensive private university opened by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Uganda in October, 1993. The University began with only 84 students and 2 faculties and has grown to 5,000 students and 9 faculties and schools and seven campuses. It was granted a Charter by the Republic of Uganda... Continue Reading →

Background on LUANAR When Malawi attained its independence in 1964, very few Malawian nationals had any training in agriculture, with most agricultural related management positions in Government and the private sector held by expatriate staff. To address this, the Government of Malawi decided to create a College specifically to train Malawians in the field of... Continue Reading →