office of international research, education, and development, virginia tech

Office of International Research, Education, and Development, Virginia Tech

International Symposium II on Higher Education in Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences in Southern Sudan

Juba, Southern Sudan

March 11-12, 2009

Catholic University of Sudan

– Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP)

• Supplemental grant from USAID/Sudan to conduct a “needs assessment” for CUofS.

• New circumstances/challenges for post-conflict higher education

– New College (Faculty) of Agriculture and Environmental Science being formed (CUofS)

– Reestablishment of public universities in the South • Opportunity for collaboration to examine a broad range of

questions and the applied research question: – ‘What are the ‘best’ or optimum curricula and

strategies to re-start higher education in agriculture and environmental sciences in post-conflict countries?’

Context of Symposium


March 11-12, 2009


• Review progress to date• Present preliminary findings of the Higher Education in

Agriculture Needs Assessment survey• Seek stakeholder view points and reactions to survey results

and implications• Engage stakeholders in exploration of curricula needs • Reach consensus on general curricula needs and higher

education strategies • Engage stakeholders in discussions of issues to be addressed

to implement curricula improvements• Develop a practical consensus strategy to overcome obstacles

to improve curricula adoption and implementation

Symposium II Goals


March 11-12, 2009


Symposium Summary

1. Limited Needs Assessment has been concluded– Key Informant – 3 states– Demonstrated magnitude of the education and

training problem– Results supplemented by detailed analysis of one

state -Bahr el Ghazal– Also input from symposium participants– Survey conclusions…



March 11-12, 2009

CONCLUSIONS from Survey • There is a serious shortage of skilled human resources in agriculture

especially in the public services (a 72% shortfall).

• Many staff in the Ministry of Agriculture are near retirement, so the shortage will worsen.

• 10 year projection in the three States: 3,000 more staff. Demand 50% higher if GOSS fulfills a promise of more financial and human resources for the “Payam and Boma” levels. How do we extrapolate to other 7 states?

• Women form only 2% of total classified staff in the three states. Overall in GOSS, educated women are only10% of employees.

• There is very high desire for further training among the classified staff of State Ministries of Agriculture.

• Short term, there is need to diversify agricultural skills by agro-ecological zones at certificate and diploma levels. Longer term people with B.Scs will also be required.



Symposium Summary

2. Credentials for Diploma and Certificate programs in flux and need clarification– Collaboration between Universities and Ministries of:

• Higher Education, Science, and Technology• Public Service and Manpower• Agriculture and Forestry• Natural Resources and Fisheries

– Provide standardization and transferability between levels

3. Priority Skills and knowledge of different academic levels (Matrix)



March 11-12, 2009

Symposium Summary



March 11-12, 2009

General Characteristics/Priorities

+ = Low Importance ++ = Important +++ = Very Important

Characteristics Certificate Diploma BSc General Education including Civic Education and Citizenship

+ ++ +++

Practical Application +++ +++ ++ Theoretical Understanding + ++ +++ Interpersonal & Teaching Skills (Communication skills, etc.)

+++ +++ +++

Community Organization Skills +++ ++ + Leadership Skills (Program planning, M&E) + ++ +++ Administrative/Mgt (Project implementation, etc) ++ ++ +++ Entrepreneur Skills / Business +++ +++ +++ Local Language Skills +++ ++ +

Symposium Summary

4. Curriculum – BSc– Post-conflict situation is unique and requires different, but

complementary short and long-term strategies– Recognition that a 4-year degree in general agriculture

has an important role to play, at least in the short-term– Specialization is provided in the 5th year

• Quality should be internationally recognized/validated – Practical experience for students essential in all years– National and international models exist to build from– University enterprises can strengthen curricula while also

supplementing university resources• College farm production, processing and sales• Specialized training, etc.

– Elements of Ag economics/business important for all students



March 11-12, 2009

Symposium Summary

• General symposium conclusions– Symposium goals achieved– Collaboration of university and ministry participants

extremely valuable and much appreciated– Detailed general agriculture and environmental sciences

curriculum will be prepared and circulated for further comment

– Curriculum will be revised accordingly– Means to support further collaboration will be sought

• Higher Education for Development (HED)Competition



March 11-12, 2009

International Symposium II on Higher Education in Agriculture and Environmental

Sciences in Southern Sudan

Questions or Comments?



March 11-12, 2009


Rebuilding Higher Education in Agriculture to Support Food Security, Economic Growth, and Peace Efforts in Post-Conflict Southern Sudan

Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Program


Virginia State University

University of Juba




University of Juba

Planning Grant Goal

• Secure funding to facilitate development of a strategic plan/proposal to facilitate a long-term partnership between Virginia Tech and its US partners and Southern Sudan universities in the areas of agriculture, environment and natural resources




University of Juba

HED Long-term Partnership Goals

• Improve the capacity of African universities to address African agricultural, environmental and natural resource management issues through faculty and institutional development.

• Internationalize and increase US university capacity to address global development issues.




University of Juba

Resources• Africa-USA Higher Education Initiative

Planning Grants (20 grants - 300 applications)

– Funding for travel to Africa and US to develop partnership strategic plan and proposal

• Africa-USA Higher Education Initiative Development Grants (tentative)– Funding for 10 to 15 year partnership– $1 to $3 million per year– Cannot be used for building construction




University of Juba

Potential Development Grant ActivitiesExamples:• Administrative capacity building• Graduate education for faculty• Faculty, staff, and student exchanges• Staff development activities• Collaborative research and research

capacity building• Collaborative extension activities and

extension capacity building




University of Juba

Examples:• Distance learning activities between partners • Resources and equipment for distance learning• Faculty development activities to improve

student learning• Modernization of laboratories and research

farms• Small grants program for collaborative research

and extension activities

Potential Development Grant Activities




University of Juba

Strategic Plan Components1. Identify key Southern Sudan agricultural and

natural resource management development needs and goals that Sudanese universities can contribute to achieving. We are jointly accomplishing this currently.

2. Identify Southern Sudan agricultural, environmental, and natural resources university development goals.

3.Develop objectives and strategies required to accomplish each development goal.




University of Juba

Strategic Plan Components4. Develop strategies that consider current

capacity and identify additional capacity building, resources, potential collaborators/supports, tasks, responsible parties, and timelines required to achieve each goal.

5. Propose management/governance structures and roles and responsibilities of key partners in the proposed long-term capacity building program.




University of Juba

Timeline• Planning grant awards: March 2009• Planning grant period: June-Nov. 2009• Strategic plan development with or without

planning grant.• Strategic plans/final reports due: Dec. 2009• Call for proposals for Africa-USA Higher

Education Initiative Development Grants: ?




University of Juba

Our Comparative Advantages• Current project defining development issues.• We have developing partnerships.• Southern Sudan seems to be supportive of the

US Land Grant Model (integrated teaching-research-extension approach), which the US would like to export.

• Southern Sudan has the opportunity to pick its own development models/pathways because it is just developing institutions and approaches.

• USAID appears to be supportive.• Southern Sudan is an important US partner.

International Symposium II on Higher Education in Agriculture and Environmental

Sciences in Southern Sudan

Questions or Comments?



March 11-12, 2009

office of international research, education, and development, virginia tech

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