

 
                    
                        Justin Rabineau
                    
                    
                    
                            (Michigan State University)
                    
                    
                Program Manager
                            
                            
                                
                                Alliance for African Partnership
                            
                     
                            Capacity Building
                        
                         
                            Climate Change
                        
                         
                            Conservation
                        
                         
                            Education
                        
                         
                            Equity
                        
                         
                            Linguistics
                        
                         
                            Partnership
                        
                         
                            Policy
                        
                         
                            Renewable Energy
                        
                         
                            Sustainability
                        
            
                  Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Transformative Education in Africa
              
              
                Recorded on Nov 20th, 2024 as part of AAP Public Dialogue Series
              
              
                  By:
                  Justin Rabineau
                
                  
                  Monday, Jan 27, 2025
                
                
                        SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
                    
                    
                      
                    
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                  Announcement of Selected Teams: 2nd Cohort of COIL Faculty Fellows Program-Africa
              
              
                MSU’s Global Youth Advancement Network (GYAN), Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), and Office for Education Abroad are pleased to announce the selected teams for the second cohort of the COIL Faculty Fellows Program-Africa. Sponsored by AAP, this online fellowship program is an opportunity for teaching faculty from any discipline to explore the theory and practice of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) through global partnerships connecting institutions within the AAP Consortium.
 
Approximately 45 highly esteemed teaching faculty expressed interest in partaking in our fellowship program and the selection committee was so impressed by the quality of all team applications received that seven teams were selected, rather than six teams as initially planned. In this second cohort of our fellowship program, MSU fellows representing the Broad College of Business, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, College of Arts & Letters, College of Education, College of Engineering, and College of Osteopathic Medicine will collaborate with African fellows from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
 
Join us in congratulating and welcoming the seven teams below:
 
Antoinette Tessmer, Broad College of Business (Finance Dept.), Michigan State University.
Jade Verbeek, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (Dept. of Marketing Management), University of Pretoria (South Africa).
Christina Dokter, College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology), Michigan State University.
Ngozi Chioma Okoronkwo, Faculty of Agriculture (Dept. of Food Science and Technology), University of Nigeria Nsukka (Nigeria).
Daniel Uyeh, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources & College of Engineering (Dept. of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering), Michigan State University.
Ifeoma Quinette Anugwa, Faculty of Agriculture (Dept. of Agricultural Extension), University of Nigeria Nsukka (Nigeria).
Ilce Gabriela Medina Meza, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources & College of Engineering (Dept. of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering), Michigan State University.
Oluchukwu Margaret Mary Nwadi, Faculty of Agriculture (Dept. of Food Science and Technology), University of Nigeria Nsukka (Nigeria).
Thomas Rimer, Broad College of Business (Finance Dept.), Michigan State University.
Chukwudi Kingsley Onyeachu, Institute of Social Policy, University of Nigeria Nsukka (Nigeria).
Trixie G. Smith, College of Arts and Letters (Dept. of Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures), Michigan State University.
Folake Ruth Aluko, Faculty of Education (Unit for Distance Education), University of Pretoria (South Africa).
Vaughn W. M. Watson, College of Education (Dept. Teacher Education), Michigan State University.
Everlyn Oluoch-Suleh, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Dept. of Languages and Literature), United States International University-Africa (Kenya).
Our most sincere thanks to all applicants and to those who helped share this opportunity within their networks. Stay tuned to GYAN's COIL webpage for future events or new Calls for Fellows.
              
              
                  By:
                  Justin Rabineau
                
                  
                  Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024
                
                
                        EDUCATION
                    
                    
                      
                    
                   
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                  Essential Competencies of Frontline Agricultural Extension Professionals
              
              
                This training manual was funded by Michigan State University through the Alliance for African
Partnership (AAP) for the 2021 Partnerships for Innovative Research in Africa (PIRA) grant award
at the scaling grant funding level titled ‘Strengthening Agricultural Extension Training in the MSU Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) Consortium Partners in Africa’.
              
              
                  By:
                  Justin Rabineau
                
                  
                  Monday, Apr 15, 2024
                
                
                        AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS
                    
                    
                      
                    
                   
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                  AAP Connect Issue 1 - Editor's Note
              
              
                Editor's Note:
Greetings to our esteemed AAP Consortium members and stakeholders,
It is with immense pleasure and a sense of collective achievement that I introduce the first issue of AAP Connect - a beacon of our concerted efforts in fostering visibility, communication, and engagement across AAP and all stakeholders and partners. Born out of the pivotal Consortium meeting in Abuja, this newsletter is a testament to our shared vision and commitment to elevating AAP’s strategic goals and activities to new heights.
The recent revision of the 2023 AAP Strategic Plan, enthusiastically endorsed by AAP’s consortium member leadership and Advisory Board, marks a significant milestone in our journey and reflects a profound trust and belief in our renewed vision.
Among the noteworthy updates to our strategy is the introduction of Goal 6, emphasizing documentation, learning, and knowledge exchange. This is not merely an addition but a critical pivot towards enhancing our capacity for effective communication, engagement, and collaborative learning. It is a move that promises to strengthen our bonds and elevate our collective impact on research and innovation for Africa.
As we launch this inaugural issue, our focus is on underscoring the importance of building bridges and networks. These networks are not just conduits for sharing information but are the very fabric that supports and propels research and innovation tailored to African needs and contexts.
We are thrilled to share with you the updates and milestones within our consortium, showcasing the dynamic and impactful work being done across our network. This is more than a newsletter; it is a call to action, a platform for engagement, and a testament to the power of unity in driving sustainable development across Africa.
Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. We look forward to continuing to work hand in hand, building on the solid foundation we have laid to realize transformative research and partnership in Africa.
Warm regards,
Amy JamisonEditor, AAP Connect
AAP Co-Director
              
              
                  By:
                  Justin Rabineau
                
                  
                  Friday, Apr 5, 2024
                
                
                        OTHER
                    
                    
                      
                    
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                  Africa-US-Asia Business Partnership Forum Unveils New Horizons in Agri-Entrepreneurship
              
              
                Africa-US-Asia Business Partnership Forum Unveils New Horizons in Agri-Entrepreneurship
 
The Africa-US-Asia Business Partnership Forum (the Forum) has emerged as a transformative and groundbreaking platform, fostering an innovative collaboration between South African, US, and Japanese academic experts and agri-entrepreneurs. This transregional partnership aims to redefine capacity strengthening for entrepreneurs and new collaborative business ventures by focusing on the shared developmental trajectories of Africa, US, and Asia, moving beyond the traditional North American and European frameworks. This partnership, funded through Partnerships for Innovative Research in Africa (PIRA), also brings diverse knowledge systems and approaches to knowledge creation and entrepreneurship, the type of partnership needed in to solve complex or “wicked” problems.
Innovative Approach to Learning and Collaboration
The project was inspired by "translative adaptive" literature, highlighting the parallel developmental paths of Africa and Asia. It leverages the concept of "translocal" learning, where iterative spaces empower individuals from diverse geographical and cultural contexts to exchange ideas and perspectives. This approach facilitated joint fieldwork in South Africa and Japan, enabling entrepreneurs and stakeholders to address sustainability challenges collaboratively.
Insights and Collective Learning
A significant achievement of the Forum has been the empirical validation of the "translocal" learning concept within the business management and entrepreneurship domains. The project showcased how South African and Japanese agri-entrepreneurs, despite their distinct socio-cultural backgrounds, converged on sustainability as a common concern. This collective learning process has paved the way for potential joint ventures aimed at tackling sustainability issues in their respective regions. Unexpectedly, the project revealed that despite initial differences, the entrepreneurs found common ground in their sustainability goals. This stemmed from continuous mutual learning and highlighted the project's capacity to bridge seemingly disparate business cultures and priorities.
 Lessons in Transregional Partnerships
This collaboration, enriched by diverse expertise in fields like supply chain management, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, was crucial in driving the project forward. It underscored the importance of patience, respect, and openness in transregional collaborations, acknowledging the challenges posed by different time zones, work schedules, and responsibilities. These values have been instrumental in managing expectations, sharing responsibilities, and equitable fund distribution.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Partnership
With plans to extend the Forum's reach beyond the initial countries, discussions with the African Development Bank are underway to secure funding for the next phase. This expansion aims to broaden the impact and include more beneficiaries The Forum has set the stage for future sustainable business ventures that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.
AAP’s Impact
Participants have lauded AAP for its role in supporting the partnership, and to its commitment to the transformative potential of innovative transcontinental partnerships in fostering sustainable development and entrepreneurship.
              
              
                  By:
                  Justin Rabineau
                
                  
                  Friday, Apr 5, 2024
                
                
                        AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS
                    
                    
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                  Bridging the Divide in Agricultural Extension Training in Africa and South Asia
              
              
                Bridging the Divide in Agricultural Extension Training in Africa and South Asia: A Transregional Approach to Curriculum Enhancement
Project team: Murari Suvedi, Michigan State University, USA; Agwu Ekwe Agwu, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Charity Chanza, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi; and P.V.K. Sasidhar, Indira Gandhi National Open University, India
 
In an era where agricultural demands are increasingly complex, the work of Dr. Murari Suvedi and his team stands as a beacon of innovative transformation. Their project, funded by AAP through the Partnerships for Innovative Research in Africa (PIRA), hopes to revitalize agricultural extension training across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Suvedi's research, sparked by his Fulbright Regional Research insights, underscores a pivotal shift towards a competency-based curriculum that aligns with the evolving landscapes of agricultural systems and market conditions.
The project involved the collaboration of several prestigious institutions, including Michigan State University; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and Indira Gandhi National Open University. The team aimed to analyze and enhance the underpinnings of agricultural extension curricula. This transregional study, covering Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, is a testament to the pressing need for curriculum reform. The initiative not only identifies core competencies required by agricultural extension workers but also bridges the gap between existing academic frameworks and the practical, skill-based requirements of the modern agricultural sector.
A major accomplishment of Suvedi and his team  is the creation of a comprehensive training manual designed to equip agricultural extension faculty with the latest skills and competencies. This manual is not just a document; it is a roadmap towards a more effective and responsive agricultural extension training model that resonates with the current needs of farmers and agribusinesses.
The team encountered startling revelations regarding the agricultural extension curriculum used within AAP member institutions and in institutions South Asia. Suvedi conveyed the profound discovery: "The curriculum is alarmingly outdated, necessitating comprehensive revision. Additionally, there is a critical need for faculty development to familiarize them with the updated curriculum and new pedagogical resources, including basic materials and training manuals." The team’s research also revealed that the agricultural extension curricula borrowed heavily from Western models that are not in sync with the practical realities of the regions studied. This misalignment highlights the urgency for a curriculum that is relevant, modern, and capable of preparing students for the actual challenges they will face in the field.
Collaboration as the Cornerstone and Lessons for the Future
The project’s success in forging robust partnerships among the partners has been instrumental. These collaborations are not only academic exchanges but vital conduits for sharing resources, research findings, and best practices, fostering a unified approach to agricultural extension training. The initiative underlines the importance of regular, transparent communication and the timely allocation of resources as pillars of successful international collaboration. These principles are crucial for building trust and ensuring the sustained impact of joint research projects.
 
The Road Ahead and Reflection on Partnership Impact
Looking forward, the team will continue its impactful work by focusing on capacity strengthening for agricultural extension faculties, thereby ensuring that the new curriculum and training methodologies are not only adopted but are also effectively implemented.  Suvedi has shared that engagement with AAP has been a transformative journey, not only advancing his professional growth but also contributing to a strategic overhaul of agricultural extension education in the regions studied. The project’s outputs, including country reports, research findings, and the training manual, are now enormously vital resources available for the global community.
              
              
                  By:
                  Justin Rabineau
                
                  
                  Friday, Apr 5, 2024
                
                
                        AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS
                    
                    
                      +1
                    
                  
      
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