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 higher education and increase the pool of PhD-level trained academic staff in African universities; ii) Provide opportunities for the doctoral research to contribute more directly to African development; iii) Strengthen inter- university collaboration in the field of higher education in Africa; and iv) Promote staff mobility among RUFORUM member universities, and across Africa.
Following the meeting of the Vice Chancellors on 11th November 2020, the RUFORUM Secretariat is pleased to announce the availability of training opportunities at the different Member Universities as part of the GTA arrangement. The Secretariat invites for more offers from the other member universities to train GTA candidates.
Under the GTA arrangement:
- The sending universities nominate the staff to be trained and RUFORUM Secretariat helps to get them placed in receiving (host) Universities
- The sending universities commit to pay for travel, health insurance, upkeep and research of their staff under training
- The receiving/host universities waive the fees and associated costs, and provide accommodation for the admitted GTA Fellows
- Once admission process is completed, the sending and host universities and the nominated GTA Fellow sign a Tripartite Agreement to guide the hosting and training of the Fellow
- In some cases where opportunities exist, the host University may attach the GTA Fellow to the research program at the hosting university
- The RUFORUM Secretariat facilitates the GTA arrangement and follows up on the GTA training
The nominations by the Vice Chancellors for the available positions should be submitted to RUFORUM Executive Secretary at secretariat@ruforum.org as soon as possible.
| No. | Host University | Country | Available Courses/programs | Number of Available positions |
| 1 | Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources | Botswana | MSc Agricultural EducationMSc Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Conservation, Mechanization, Land Use PlanningMSc Crop Science (Agronomy, Soil Science, Crop Protection, Horticulture streams)MSc Animal Science (Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Animal Health, Animal Management Systems, Animal Nutrition streams)PhD Crop Science (Agronomy, Soil Science, Crop Protection, Horticulture, Agroforestry streams)PhD Animal Science (Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Animal Management Systems, Animal Nutrition streams) | 19 |
| 2 | University of eSwatini | eSwatini | 1. PhD in Agricultural Economics 2. PhD in Agricultural Extension | 6 |
| 4 | University of Abomey Calavi | Benin | 1. PhD in Mathematics 2. PhD in Physics 3. PhD in Statistics and Biometry 4. PhD in Climate Change 5. PhD in Irrigation | 5 |
| 5 | Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources | Malawi | 1. PhD Agricultural Extension 2. PhD in Agricultural Economics/ PhD Marketing Management 3. MSc. In Agribusiness and agri-food value chain management/ MSC in Agribusiness management 4. PhD in Aquaculture Fisheries 5. PhD in Agriculture (Animal Science) | 15 |
| 6 | University of Nairobi | Kenya | 1. PhD in Biochemistry 2. PhD in Biology (Botany) 3. PhD in Crop Protection/ Entomology 4. Masters in Biomedical Engineering 5. PhD in Animal Science 6. PhD in Animal Breeding 7. PhD in Molecular Genetics or Breeding 8. PhD in Wildlife Management 9. PhD in Soil Fertility Management | 10 |
| 7 | Kenyatta University | Kenya | PhD in Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| 8 | University of Zambia | Zambia | 1. PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2. PhD in Engineering Management 3. MSc in Electrical Engineering 4. PhD in Rock Mechanics/ PhD Small scale mining 5. PhD in Construction Management 6. PhD in Adolescent Health (Sexual Reproductive Health) | 6 |
| 9 | Mbarara University of Science and Technology | Uganda | 1.PhD in Educational Administration and Planning 2. PhD in Public Health 3. PhD in Medicine and Science 4. PhD in Management 5. PhD in Biomedical Engineering 6. PhD in Mathematics | 6 |
| 10 | Haramaya University | Ethiopia | 1. PhD in Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation 2. MSc in Climate Smart Agriculture 3. MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management | 10 |
| 11 | University of Namibia | Namibia | 1. PhD / MSc in Animal Nutrition 2. PhD / MSc in Animal Breeding 3. PhD / MSc in Molecular Genetics 4. PhD / MSc in Poultry Production 5. PhD / MSc in Rangeland Resource Management 6. PhD in Fruits and Vegetable processing 7. PhD in Product Development 8. PhD in Food Chemistry 9. PhD in Cereal Science 10. PhD in Food Microbiology | 5 |
| 12 | University of Eldoret | Kenya | 1.Phd in Seed Science 2. PhD in Soil Science 3. PhD in Aquaculture and Fisheries 4. PhD in Environmental Science 5. PhD in Technology Education | 6 |
* More openings will be communicated as we receive confirmation from member universities. Kindly check the RUFORUM website: www.ruforum.org
RUFORUM Secretariat 04 December 2020
