RUFORUM organises a gathering of technical minds

Audrey Galawu

The Regional Universities Forum (RUFORUM) is set to hold a meeting to brief government and the public on the forthcoming 18th Regional Universities Forum (RUF) for Capacity Building in Agriculture Annual General Meeting which will take place between December 12-16.

The mega event, which will attract attendance from 148 member universities from 38 African countries will take place at the Harare International Conference Centre under the theme: “Strengthening Africa’s Agri-food Systems in the Post COVID-19 Era – Opportunities and Challenges.” But it will be preceded by a local briefing to be convened by organisers at the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary education, Innovation Science and Technology Development headquarters on 9 December, 2022.

In a statement, RUFORUM said the end of month AGM will emphasize on the need for an action plan for strengthening human resource and science capacity for the continent and will be an opportunity to forge new partnerships, network, discuss emerging issues, share lessons and establish the potential to adopt best practices across the member universities from within the continent. It will emphasize on the link between universities and agriculture and their potential synergy for agricultural transformation.

The AGM will also be a platform for dialogue on issues impacting Agricultural Higher Education, Science, Technology Innovation and Industralisation in Africa..

“RUFORUM co-organises this kind of convening with member states and its Network Universities in a rotational manner across different countries in Africa.

“This year, the government and RUFORUM member universities in Zimbabwe namely; the University of Zimbabwe, Africa University, Bindura University of Science Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Great Zimbabwe University, Lupane State University, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and Midlands State University are hosting the AGM,” RUFORUM said.

The AGM will bring together higher education and agriculture leaders, researchers, policy makers, development partners, private sector, actors, students and farmers, among other stakeholders.