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A strategic approach for African Agricultural Universities experiencing low human capacity to engage in graduate-level training: Lessons from Gulu University in Uganda
(Fifth RUFORUM Biennial Regional Conference, 2016-10) Ogenge, D
The significance of agriculture in driving Africa’s growth and development has greatly
gained recognition in the recent past. African universities are expected to play a critical
role in African agricultural development process because of their inherent pivotal role in
human capital development and agro-technology generation. Many universities in Africa
are plagued with low human capacity, a key factor, which has continued to undermine
their contribution to economic development in the continent. The most glaring capacity
gap is evident at graduate-level training. Therefore, this paper shares lessons based on
experience from Gulu University in Uganda on how agricultural universities experiencing
human resource capacity gaps can innovatively venture into high quality PhD-level
training. The paper describes innovation in curriculum process that led to the development
and mounting of a thematic area-based taught PhD program in the Faculty of Agriculture
and Environment. This PhD model is considered as an “accommodative strategy” suitable
for human resource-constrained universities as it allows for effective use of existing limited
human capacity while providing room for expansion within the same curriculum structure
concomitant with staff capacity improvement.
Strategies of Managing Student Discipline in Secondary Schools in Gulu District, Uganda
(International Journal of current research, 2011-10) Denis Thaddeus Ofoyuru; Lawrence Too-Okema
The issue of student discipline is a pervasive and constant challenge. Secondary schools in Gulu
District have also suffered alarming deterioration in student discipline in the past decade. This
study aimed at establishing relationship between school ownership and strategies of managing
student discipline in Gulu District with specific objectives of identifying strategies used in
managing student discipline. Cross-sectional parallel sample survey design was used in the study
with both qualitative and quantitative orientation. Target population consisted of headteachers,
teachers and students with 377 respondents sampled. Questionnaire survey and key informants
interview were used as techniques; interview guide and questionnaires as research instruments
for data collection respectively. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS). Frequencies and percentages were used. The results showed that strategies of managing
student discipline in secondary schools in Gulu district included rewards, punishment,
communication, and counselling. The researchers concluded that strategies of managing student
discipline in secondary schools in Gulu District include rewards, punishment, communication
and counselling and both faith-based and non faith-based schools in Gulu district use similar
strategies of managing student discipline. Recommendations were made that policies on
discipline management be streamlined, implementers should balance all the strategies and
researchers should delve further into each strategy of managing student discipline.
Inorganic nutrients and heavy metals in some wild edible plants consumed by rural communities in Northern Uganda:
(Elsevier Ltd., 2023-08-04) Alfred Nyeroa; Innocent Achayea; Godwin Upoki Anywarc; Geoffrey Maxwell Malingab
For centuries, wild edible plant species have sustained local communities across Africa by supplementing households’ diets in seasons of food shortage. Wild edible plants contain inorganic nutrients, which are essential for the proper functioning of organisms. However, their nutritional
contents have not been well researched and are generally poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the levels of inorganic micro-and macronutrients as well as heavy metals (Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb) in selected wild edible plants traditionally consumed among the Acholi
communities in northern Uganda, and associated health risks of consuming them. The leaves and young stems of 12 wild edible plants, viz: Acalypha rhomboidea, Asystacia gangetica, Crassocephalum sacrobasis, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Heterotis rotundifolia, Hibiscus cannabinus, Hibiscus sp.,
Hibiscus surattensis, Ipomoea eriocarpa, Maerua angolensis, Senna obtusifolia and Vigna membranacea were air-dried and crushed to powder. The powders were then macerated using aqua regia solution and analyzed in triplicates using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The
target hazard quotient (THQ) of Pb was calculated for non-carcinogenic health risks. Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn and Pb were detectable in all the wild edible plants sampled. All inorganic nutrients (mg/ 100gdw), were below the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA); Mg (9.4 ± 0.19 to 10.4 ± 0.15),
Ca (119 ± 5.82 to 1265 ± 14.9), Fe (3.29 ± 0.02 to 11.2 ± 0.09), Zn (0.52 ± 0.02 to 2.36 ± 0.03). Hg and Cd were below detectable limits in all the samples tested. The content of Pb (0.69 ± 0.11 to1.22 ± 0.07) was higher than the CODEX and EU limits of 0.1 ppm (0.001 mg/g) but was below the recommended threshold of 1. The health risk assessment revealed no potential hazards both in children and adults. However, there is a need to study the bioavailability of Pb when the vegetables are consumed due to factors such as indigestion and antinutritional compounds
Assessing University‑Society Engagements: Towards a Methodological Framework
(Innovative Higher Education, 2023) Bekele Teklu Abate; Ofoyuru Denis Thaddeus; Woldegiorgis Emnet Tadesse
Abstract
Higher education institutions pursue three distinct yet interrelated missions of
education, knowledge production, and community engagement. Until the last decades
of the twentieth century, the third mission, also known as community engagement,
has received little attention. Although the third mission generally aims to
contribute to the socio-cultural and economic transformations of society, its distinct
characteristics are still under-theorized. None of the existing methodological
and conceptual frameworks provides a holistic analysis of significant engagement
indicators that transcend specific application contexts. Collecting data on university
engagement with society and making meaningful interpretations is thus a challenge
to researchers and practitioners. To contribute to filling this gap, this modified Delphi
study proposes a comprehensive methodological framework of university-society
engagements in Africa. The core thesis is that engagement is ubiquitous- university
missions and support systems embody it. The framework thus constitutes eight
engagement domains aligned with university core functions (teaching, knowledge
production, and societal service) and support systems (governance, digitalization,
internationalization, partnerships, and sustainability), with 52 items, rating scales,
and descriptors. The framework contributes to conceptual and methodological clarity,
informs data collection, and interpretations of the different modalities of university
engagements. The alignment of engagement domains to university activities and
the simplified articulations of the indicators ensure straightforward interpretations
and applications of the framework by practitioners and researchers. It is also significant
as it comes at a time when universities are expected to contribute more directly
and significantly to the realizations of the UN 2030 SDGs and the African Union
Land Suitability Evaluation for Tea and Food Crops in Kabarole District, Western Uganda
(Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2013-05-29) Expedito Nuwategeka; Robert Ayine; Denis Thaddeus Ofoyuru
The study was conducted in Busoro Sub County in Kabarole District to assess the
physical and economic suitability of the land for Tea, Maize and Bananas. Physical
suitability was evaluated using a soil map of the study area. Soil types with their
parameters of Cation Exchange Capacity, base saturation, pH, organic matter,
nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous were studied. The climate of the area was
studied using annual monthly rainfall and temperature values for the area for more
than thirty years. Production costs, market prices and annual yields per hectare for
tea, maize and bananas were computed. Using Net Present Value approach, the
economic suitability of each crop was computed. The economic and physical
parameters were entered into a model built in Automated Land Evaluation System
(ALES) software using the decision trees. Overall suitability evaluation results were
produced for each of the respective crops. The results of the study indicated that
different soil types (management units) had varying suitability among the three
crops. Tea registered higher overall economic suitability followed by Bananas and
then Maize. However, Bananas presented a higher overall physical suitability on all
soil types followed by Tea and Maize. The study recommends conducting a mini
agro-ecological zonation in planning and decision for maximum utilization of the
land resources for a potential LUT is an important tool in ensuring improved
agricultural livelihoods and household income.