Newsletter: January-July 2017
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The newsletter of the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa Vol 6. Issue 4 January - June 2017 CARTA vice chancellors meet in Nairobi CARTA was represented by its co-directors, Prof. Sharon Fonn, Dr. Alex Ezeh and the CARTA secretariat. Other participants were from the University of Nairobi, heads of CARTA’s partner research institutions, CARTA’s northern partner institutions, the Kenyan Ministry of Higher Education and the Commission for University Education. By Eunice Kilonzo, CARTA communications officer. rof. Peter Mbithi, the vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN), In this issue hosted the CARTA 2nd Vice Chancellors’ meeting on 10-11 July in Nairobi, PKenya. Speaking to the more than 70 participants from eight universities across sub- P1: CARTA vice chancellors meet in Nairobi Saharan Africa, Prof. Mbithi in his opening remarks warned that the risk of failure to achieve development goals was substantial “if Africa does not invest in quality P2: APHRC’s new executive director research.” P3: Why Africa needs postdoctoral training The conference provided an opportunity for university representatives to reinforce their commitment to advancing Africa’s research and graduate P4: Testimonies from Cohort 4 Fellows training capacity, while also sorting through the most appropriate ways to increase investment. One idea was to take the investment case directly to heads P6: CARTA fellow wins best abstract award of state and government, to urge more direct domestic investment for research and multi-university collaboration. Stronger research capacity in universities, P7: Fellows’ corner Prof. Mbithi added, translates to intellectual capital that can address problems specific to Africa among other benefits. P9: What it takes to host JAS 1 and 4: Prof. Mbithi used the example of the University of Nairobi’s own efforts to lessons and experiences promote partnership and collaboration as a way to improve graduate training and research. The university has broadened the scope of opportunity available P10: Program updates to its graduate students, and is helping to ensure that UoN researchers are contributing to the body of evidence in various disciplines. This is through P11: Photo gallery collaborative ventures such as patent protection and licensing, or formal mentorship programs with industry whether with private sector firms or other institutions. 1 Building a vibrant multidisciplinary African Academy able to lead world-class research that makes a positive impact on Public and Population Health. The University of Nairobi senate members of Rwanda and Makerere University) to Level Training in African Universities: The attended the meeting’s morning session specifically institutionalize useful aspects Comparative Advantage of CARTA.” He as Prof. Mbithi wanted to afford them the of CARTA at their home universities. The shared data from an independent evaluation opportunity to understand CARTA and the institutionalization involves digitization of the done in 2015 that showed that CARTA was work it does in training African scholars and CARTA curriculum. Partner instuitions pledge a model for doctoral training in low and researchers. to allow staff the time to participate in CARTA middle income countries. The evaluators activities. Universities are also requested to recommended to the Swedish International Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha, the board commit to paying full salaries of staff on PhD Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)— chair for the Commission for University fellowship, reduce the workload of staff on who had commissioned the study—explored Education, delivered the keynote address research projects, and waive fees. how they can support CARTA further. on behalf of Kenya’s Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i. He noted that Her presentation highlighted how CARTA The VCs’ meeting further deliberated how professors and academics have changed has to date supported 175 scholars, of whom to best institutionalize improvements in their priorities and are instead focused on nearly 40 have completed their PhDs. These doctoral training at Africa universities. The VCs publication and not on learners. Further, fellows have produced nearly 530 peer shared interventions that are being pursued underfunding of universities meant that the reviewed publications and raised nearly at their various institutions to institutionalize academic environment is not living up to its US$5million in grant funding as principal CARTA programs. true potential. investigators for their own research. She challenged participants at the meeting to On the evening of the first day of the meeting, Prof. Nyaigotti said: “I wish CARTA well and find ways to best secure the future of CARTA a wider audience, including embassy staff, request the consortium to work together graduates and increase research output and donors and researchers were invited to a with CUE to improve the quality of university quality in their home institutions. cocktail reception. Prof. Göran Bondjers, education particularly in postgraduate from the University of Gothenburg—one training so that Africa can produce great The anchor of the two days of discussions of CARTA’S Northern partners—reflected scholarly outputs and minds.” was the need to develop an investment case about CARTA and its international relevance. for domestic funding for university graduate “Africa is in the forefront in efforts to increase Prof. Sharon Fonn, CARTA co-director, leadership programs. the quality of research training, CARTA is an discussed CARTA role and aim to build a critical innovation that is relevant not only for Africa mass of PhDs. She highlighted how CARTA CARTA co-director Dr. Alex Ezeh—APHRC but for Europe as well.” offered three grants to three universities former executive director—presented (Obafemi Awolowo University, University his thinking on “Rethinking Doctoral APHRC’s new executive director chapter and to find her among the Center’s have been part of APHRC’s culture and most respected leaders. From its earliest days, success for many years, and she will now have APHRC has been dedicated to engaging the chance to put her stamp on the Center’s exceptional African researchers and global continuing successes.” leaders in using evidence to improve lives. Catherine is a stellar example of the Center’s Dr. Kyobutungi shared: “It is a great honor success in doing so,” said Tamara Fox, chair of to be selected as APHRC’s next executive the APHRC Board of Directors. “The board is director. Amplifying the voices of African very much looking forward to working with scholars and building research capacity in her in this new role.” the region have been my life’s work, and this opportunity to guide APHRC is a chance to Dr. Kyobutungi succeeds Dr. Alex Ezeh, who work with an exceptional group of colleagues Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi was previously APHRC’s has led APHRC for 18 years. “Under Alex and the board to continue bringing African Director of Research. Ezeh’s exceptional direction over the past 18 voices and leadership to the fore.” r. Catherine Kyobutungi, distinguished years, APHRC grew from an incredible idea epidemiologist and research leader, to an institution that has earned the respect Dr. Kyobutungi holds a MBChB from Makerere is the African Population and Health of everyone it touches. It feels woefully University in Uganda, and both a MSc in D inadequate to say how deeply grateful the Community and Health Management and Research Center’s next executive director. She has held several leadership roles over board is for Alex’s dedication and tireless work a PhD in Epidemiology from the University the past decade at APHRC. She assumed the to create a place where some of Africa’s most of Heidelberg in Germany. She served as role in October 2017. Her appointment was esteemed and most promising researchers a Medical Officer at Rushere Hospital in announced by the organization’s Board of can thrive,” said Tamara Fox. Mbarara District, Uganda, and Medical Directors on 21 July, 2017. Officer in Charge of the Mbarara Municipality “It is impossible to imagine a better person Health Sub-district. She was also an assistant “It is deeply satisfying to search the world for to take APHRC into its next phase than lecturer and lecturer in the Department of the best candidate to lead APHRC into its next Catherine,” said Dr. Ezeh. “Her skills as a Community Health at Mbarara University of researcher, a manager, a mentor, and a leader Science and Technology in Uganda. 2 CARTA PhD at University of Rwanda visits and improved administration in African CARTA news institutions. Dr. Francois Niragire, CARTA Cohort 1 fellow, CARTA fellow named vice dean has been added to the list of PhD holders The awards are meant to support CARTA’s at the University of Rwanda. This followed African partner institutions to mainstream and CARTA Cohort 4 fellow Boladale Mapayi has the successful defense of his doctoral institutionalize proven and tested innovations been appointed the vice dean of the Faculty research thesis on 31 July, 2017 titled “Spatial with a strong emphasis on documentation of of Clinical Sciences at Obafemi Awolowo Modelling of the Relationship between experiences and lessons learned. Some of University, Nigeria. The PhD fellow, a senior HIV Prevalence and Determinants of Child the tested and effective innovations that will lecturer in the institution’s Department of Mortality in Rwanda”. His PhD research sought be adopted by awardees include faculty and Mental Health and a clinical psychologist, was to assess the factors through which the HIV/ staff training and interactions with VCs. appointed to her new role on 1 July, 2017. AIDS epidemic influenced child mortality Shortly after sharing the announcement, trends in Rwanda, and pathways by which its Only one application per University is Dr. Mapayi said: “I thank CARTA for being a overall impact was circumvented during the permitted and applications were received major stakeholder in my success story. The study period. through university, faculty, and school or leadership skills training are coming in handy. department level.