RUFORUM Supports Universities with Genstat Purchase

Research Methods Resources CDrom including GenStat Discovery Edition 3

Due to a concern that many research institutes and universities in the developing world cannot afford professional statistical software, VSN Intl. Ltd. decided in 2003 to release a version of their statistical software GenStat that is free for non-commercial use (students, researchers, lecturers, NGOs) in Africa. The Statistical Services Centre of the University of Reading (especially Roger Stern), the ILRI-ICRAF Research Methods Group based in Nairobi (headed by Ric Coe) and the Biometrics Unit of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Nairobi (headed by Parin Kurji) gave strong support. GenStat Discovery Edition 1 was released on 17 October 2003.

At that time the ILRI-ICRAF Research Methods Group hosted a project from VVOB (Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance), managed by Wim Buysse. Through this project, GenStat Discovery Edition 1 was distributed on free CD-roms through Africa. Initially the CDs also contained a copy of the website of SSC and the ILRI-ICRAF RMG. This later evolved into a website with resources from many authors who gave permission to use their work when teaching about research methods in Africa. The coverage of the resources also expanded from pure statistics and data management to the much broader topic of how to do good quality research. Over 8,000 CD-roms have been distributed to researchers, lecturers and students in 33 African countries. 

Due to the success of the CD in Africa, VSN Intl. decided to make the GenStat Discovery Edition also available to developing countries in the rest of the world. And they released new versions. The current version, GenStat Discovery Edition 3, is based on the commercial GenStat version 7 and includes links to open source packages such as R and WinBugs. The VVOB project ended in 2007 and ICRAF, the World Agroforestry Centre, decided not to support the further development and distribution of the resources. But RUFORUM, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, based in Kampala, Uganda, took over. Through RUFORUM, the resources are now better spread among lecturers and students. Click here to access Research Methods Resources CDrom including GenStat Discovery Edition 3

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RUFORUM Supports 8 Universities with Genstat Purchase

In February, 2010, RUFORUM purchased Genstat for 8 of its Member Universities. These have been listed below with the contact persons for each university. Genstat will be available for these universities for the Next 3 years with an annual site license key that has been issued to the 8 universities running until 31 March 2013. All upgrades will be issued within the period. More about Genstat Click here.

1. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology - Mr Ombwara 
2. University of Nairobi - Dr Kinuthia and Parinbanu Nazmudin Kurji
3. Egerton University - Dr Bebe Bockline
4. Makerere University - Dr Nabasirye Margaret and Mr Muhumuza Albert
5. Sokoine University - Dr. Matovelo
6. University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture - Dr Gondwe Timothy
7. University of Zambia - Dr. Phiri Elijah and Mr. Chinyama Collins
8. University of Zimbabwe - Mr Halimani Tinyiko