07 Nov

Kick-Off of Mobile ICT4Ag App Usability Test Event in Kenya

Today marked the day of one of SCARA projects most interesting activities, the usability testing of mobile agricultural apps. 7 computer science students from Egerton University in Kenya gathered to develop an testing setting. This procedure supports the usability evaluation of common Kenyan mobile agri-apps. The students get test their own apps tested by the actual users, the farmers. The students develop a testing procedure under supervision and conduct the usability testing themselves. This provides a great opportunity for them to learn and develop these skills hands-on.

Even in Europe females in tech, computer science, programming and app development is an important topic. The SCARA project is happy that out of 7 students, involved in this activity, 4 are female computer science students. They themselves are developing mobile apps for ICT4Ag scenarios.

The SCARA project partners Egerton University and BOKU Vienna and the APPEAR program supports “Girls for a change“.

27 Mar

Training on Participation, Transformation and Ownership

26 Students were invited to participate in a highly interactive training on participative research and participation. The training was hosted by Egerton University and facilitated by Beverly Achieng (EgU)and Dominik Ruffeis (BOKU). The students were highly motivated to learn about participation, participative research approaches, transformation, community ownership and research ethics. Main goal of the training was to learn how to integrate the methodologies of participation into research and field work.

Participation is getting involved, sharing ideas and discussion and participation is allowing all community members to take part and to own the activities. (Students voice)

A hot debate was going on on the levels of participation and how participation is reflected in common institutions.

Lowest level of participation is just sharing information with communities and the highest level is purely self-motivated community actions including assets and identifying the needs and ideas for change through the communities themselves.

Participation is empowering people to learn, develop, change values, take action and improve. It can lead to sustainability transition or even transformation processes. Changing values and views through learning will eventually lead to changed behavior and innovations.

  • Engage people emotionally
  • Development of resilience
  • Engage people at scale
  • Work towards well being
  • Choose your facilitators carefully

Participation is also about collaboration and working together:

Research should rather focus on solutions and not on problems. Communities always look for solutions and not for problems.

Participants of the Training:

16 Feb

The Winners of the SCARA Research Competition – Welcome

SCARA project is announcing the 5 winners of the Research Competition. Four female and one male students will participate in the SCARA mentorship program. The Master students receive additional support for their research activities. This involves write up of their Master thesis and publishing of scientific papers through international supervision and an innovative scientific creative writing course. The mentorship program is facilitated through an e-learning collaboration platform hosted by BOKU. An innovative joint students supervision and ToT (Training of Trainers) approach is used.  Students are guided through the process of proposal development and publication of their research output. Additionally they will have the opportunity to present their findings during an international Symposium hosted by Egerton University and SCARA project in the first quarter of 2019.

Research Competition Winners – Egerton University Master Students
  • Daisy Lelgut Lanoi
  • Sally Mukami Kimathi
  • Cosmas Kweyu Lutomia
  • Julia Akhabere
  • Anne Wamaitha Kamande

The topics selected include research on dairy farm intensification and impact on land resources, food processing of Mango, sustainable technology adoption, use of farm videos and mobile application for advisory services in Kenya. The students from Egerton University will collaborate with BOKU students on selected topics. This supports and enhances peer2peer learning process and integrates the students into an international science network.

SCARA project is happy to welcome the students and the team is looking forward to a fruitful cooperation.

 

26 Sep

Research Competition – EXTENSION of Deadline to 31st October 2017 – Take your Chance

SCARA APPEAR Students Research Competition

Announcement

The SCARA (Strengthening capacities for agricultural education, research and adoption in Kenya) Project wishes to announce and call upon students of Egerton University to submit for research concept notes under the themes listed below. Research work can cover topics from natural as well as social science. There are separate entries for female and male students.

Details, competition guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from:

http://scara.boku.ac.at/students-competition/

All applications must be submitted by 31st October 2017.

Topic 1: Use of participatory approaches to integrate socio-economic, ethical and gender issues into agricultural research and dissemination to shorten impact times and increase broad uptake.

Topic 2: Barriers for successful and sustainable adaptation and farm level adoption of new agricultural technologies.

Topic 3: Innovative research in providing sustainable and appropriate solutions in the nexus of climate change, water, food and nutrition security (FNS) and health (soil – water – atmosphere continuum, climate smart agriculture, value chain)

Topic 4: Innovative knowledge sharing and dissemination tools for adoption and adaptation of agricultural technologies (ICT4Ag)

Topic 5: Youth and Agriculture – Investing in the future

16 May

Call for Concept Notes open for SCARA Research Competition

SCARA APPEAR Students Research Competition

Announcement

The SCARA (Strengthening capacities for agricultural education, research and adoption in Kenya) Project wishes to announce and call upon students of Egerton University to submit for research concept notes under the themes listed below. Research work can cover topics from natural as well as social science. There are separate entries for female and male students.

Details, competition guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from:

http://scara.boku.ac.at/students-competition/

All applications must be submitted by 30th June 2017.

Topic 1: Use of participatory approaches to integrate socio-economic, ethical and gender issues into agricultural research and dissemination to shorten impact times and increase broad uptake.

Topic 2: Barriers for successful and sustainable adaptation and farm level adoption of new agricultural technologies.

Topic 3: Innovative research in providing sustainable and appropriate solutions in the nexus of climate change, water, food and nutrition security (FNS) and health (soil – water – atmosphere continuum, climate smart agriculture, value chain)

Topic 4: Innovative knowledge sharing and dissemination tools for adoption and adaptation of agricultural technologies (ICT4Ag)

Topic 5: Youth and Agriculture – Investing in the future

06 Apr

Creative scientific writing course – Impressions and Reflexions

The course on creative scientific writing taught by Dr. Andreas Zitek from Center for Education, e-Learning and Didactics from BOKU was very well received by all students of Egerton University. In fact the training created a lot of interest across the faculties of Egerton University. This might lead to further collaboration between the universities.

30 female and male students, from Master to PhD level and academic staff members of Egerton University participated in the innovative 2-day course on creative scientific writing of papers and research proposals. During the highly interactive course developed by Andreas Zitek , they received a practical hands-on training based on an innovative combination of creative didactics and technologies.

Young scientists will have the opportunity to participate in a research competition with separate entries for female and male students. 10 students, selected by a jury, will receive support and mentoring for their work from proposal development to publication by BOKU and Egerton University academic staff members. A shared moodle course will be hosted by the E-Campus of EU. This will strengthen collaboration between BOKU and EU through an innovative mentorship program for young students to increase capacities in e-learning and research of both Universities.

Selected quotes from Andreas lecture:

Writing = mind structuring
“Writing a research paper is to learn to
bring order into your own thoughts.
It is the experience of methodological work.
That is why the topic of the work is less
important than the experience that comes
with it.”
(Umberto Eco)


I hear and I forget.
I see, and I remember.
I do and I understand.
(Confucius)