nairobi newsletter

DAAD Regional Office for Africa - April 2013
nairobi
newsletter
Subject-related
Partnerships with
Institutions of
Higher Education
in Developing
Countries
The programme focuses on
the improvement of teaching,
research, services and management at a partner university through curriculum design, promotion of education/
training of professors,
(under)graduates and junior
faculty members.
It also aims at creating networks among German and
African universities. Subjectrelated partnerships can run
for up to four years.
Funding / Requirements:
· Application by German
university in cooperation with
African partners
· Max. 50,000 Euro per year
for up to 4 years: travel costs,
stipends for Germans &
Africans and accommodation
· Additional funding up to
20,000 Euro /p.a. possible, if
a third African party is included in the programme
Application deadline:
June, 30th 2013
(Funding commences in
January 2014)
Editorial
DAAD
Regional Office for Africa
P.O.Box 14050-00800
Nairobi, Kenya
Director:
Christoph Hansert
Editor:
Anja Bengelstorff
Contact:
+254 733 929 929
[email protected]
http://nairobi.daad.de
Research in the time of
e-resources
How to write a grant proposal? How to
write a research proposal? How do I access relevant literature for my academic
and research work?
The DAAD Regional Office for East Africa
answered these questions amply by conducting a four day workshop for 36 current DAAD
Master and PhD scholars in Tanzania, whose
purpose it was to equip scholars with relevant
skills on how to effectively access and utilize
e-resources in their university education and
research work. Participants were also
equipped with skills on grant proposal writing
as well as proposal writing for academic purposes.
The workshop was organized in collaboration
with the Information Training and Outreach
Centre for Africa (ITOCA). The event took
place in Dar es Salaam from 12 -15 March
2013. The e-resources training covered the
sources HINARI (Health InterNetwork Access
to Research Initiative), AGORA (Access to
Global Online Research in Agriculture), Open
Access content but also TEEAL (The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library) as well as
Reference Management Softwares. Search
strategies were introduced to enable the attendees to retrieve relevant electronic full text
journal articles with ease.
Resource persons for the workshop were Dr.
Tandi Lwoga, Dr. Pamela Marinda, Dr.
Baanda Salim, Prof. Hamadi Boga, Dr.
Mkoma, Dr. Charles Kihampa, Grace Msoffe,
Dr. Magadula and Prof. Mulungu. They were
Happy faces: Participants newly equipped with skills to use eresources
drawn from universities in Tanzania and
Kenya.
The participants had the opportunity to reflect
on the course at a reception hosted by JanDieter Gosink, the Cultural Attaché of the German Embassy in Tanzania, on Friday evening.
Scholars were very delighted to have had the
opportunity to attend this valuable training.
No sweat, no gain: Scholars on their way to finding just the right
resource to beef up their research
newsletter April 2013
In-Country Scholarships
Kenya:
Announcement 2013
DAAD offers Masters and
PhD scholarships within the
"DAAD In-country Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies" programme.
This programme is meant for
staff members of public
universities and fully chartered universities in Kenya
(or candidates considered for
teaching or research staff
recruitment) or from the
public sector aiming at a
Master’s or a PhD / Doctorate in a discipline with
strong relevance to national development
(including the applied Social
Sciences, environmental and
other special areas of Law,
but excluding the Humanities and Fine Arts).
There is no age limit but the
previous degree must not be
older than 6 years at the time
of application.
The applicant needs a
Bachelors degree with at
least second upper (please
calculate from the transcripts
if the degree is not graded)
for the masters scholarship,
and a Masters degree for the
PhD scholarship.
Only Kenyan citizens are
eligible.
Application deadline:
20th June
at the DAAD office in Nairobi
or
page 2
From an In-Country scholarship in Kenya to my
short research visit to Germany
I am an In-Country DAAD scholar from Ethiopia, pursuing a Masters degree in Biology of
Conservation at the University of Nairobi. From
July to September 2013, I went for a short research visit to the University of Konstanz in
Germany, courtesy of DAAD. This visit helped
me not only in gaining academic experience
and creating an international exposure to German academic institutions, but also in getting
to know the German society, culture and tradition.
Before travelling, the first and foremost thing
that I needed to do was to find a hosting supervisor at a German university. I communicated
to different professors in Germany which wasn’t an easy task. After I got an invitation from
Prof. Dr. Mark van Kleunen (University of Konstanz), I tried to read widely about Germany
and learn a little German to prepare myself.
Prof. van Kleunen was very cooperative and
helped me in making all arrangements through
his assistants. I was able to access the university library, laboratory and greenhouse facilities
under his research group.
As the professor’s research team was international, I got the opportunity to work and share
experiences with them. Unreservedly, this was
of great benefit for my current and future career. Prof. van Kleunen’s research team organized a boat trip on Lake Constance and
Plants in Germany: DAAD scholar Demissew wonders
whether they are digestible...
helped me to experience the natural beauty
of a place called Mainau (on the outskirts of
Konstanz city) which is one of the most
memorable experiences of my visit in Germany. Apart from socializing with the Germans and their country, I didn’t experience
any negative stereotypes during my stay in
Germany.
Finally, I am very privileged of being one of
the DAAD scholars and would like to thank
for the very cooperative DAAD staff both in
Bonn and Nairobi who made my visit fruitful
and successful without any stumbling block.
Demissew Tsigemelak
at the Board of Postgraduate
Studies/Graduate School of
the intended university of
study.
Applications from female
candidates as well as applicants from less privileged
groups and regions are
encouraged.
Application details are available on the link below:
http://nairobi.daad.de/
funding_for_studying_kenya_a.ph
p
An Ethiopian in Germany researches plants in pots as well as in the wild. After work is done, his team takes him on a boat trip. Call that
a reward!
newsletter April 2013
page 3
DAAD trains young scientists on their
way to German research hubs in scientific proposal writing
To make the learning process as effective as
possible for the participants they worked in small
groups according to their respective fields. Dr.
Fridah Kanana (KU), Dr. Shaban Mayanja (UoN)
For the 5th time, a proposal writing workshop was offered by the DAAD
and Dr. Emmanuel Manyasa (KU) headed the
Office Nairobi: The workshop aimed to improve the scientific writing
group of Social Sciences/ Humanities/ Economskills of potential DAAD PhD scholarship applicants to Germany and
ics. Dr. Solomon Derese (UoN) and Dr. Stellato introduce the German research landscape to young Kenyan acamaris Muthoka (Egerton U) trained the Natural
demics. On March 28, with the assistance of selected trainers, about
Sciences group. Prof. Joy Obando (KU) was en40 graduate students gathered at Kenyatta University Conference
trusted with the young researchers of Geo SciCenter to prepare themselves thoroughly for the application whose
ences. A highly useful instruction on “Literature
deadline is on September 30.
access, review and reference management“ was
provided by Dr. Pamela Marinda (ITOCA).
Prof. Joy Obando (KU) welcomed the participants and DAAD’s programme officer Anja Bengelstorff, who organised the event, laid out
During the second part of the workshop in June,
the requirements for PhD scholarship applications to Germany. Furparticipants will have the opportunity to conduct
thermore, the young researchers were instructed by Dr. Shaban Mamock interviews, similar to those of the actual
yanja on how to find a supervisor in Germany.
scholarship interview. Before then, they are
given time to improve their proposals based on
what they learnt in the March workshop and get
feedback by their trainers.
No abstract
without a title.
This was just one
of the hurdles the
workshop
participants took
with ease.
Scholarships,
here we come!
The participants stated that the workshop met
their expectations: They saw it as a great help to
refine their research goals, the methodology
needed to attain them and the practical steps
necessary to embark on an international research career. They now feel better prepared to
write a convincing proposal. Both subjects discussed and organization was evaluated as very
good by almost all participants.
How to find a PhD supervisor in Germany
In order to apply for DAAD PhD scholarships to Germany, the invitation of a host researcher is a requirement. Here are a few useful
suggestions on how to establish research contacts in Germany:
What is a good PhD supervisor?
They must be professor (not only [senior] lecturer) at a German university.
They should do research in exactly the field you are working on to make sure they will be interested in your research.
They express their interest in supervising someone with your kind of topic
- either explicitly: see database of structured PhD programmes (www.phdgermany.de)
Many structured PhD programmes (combining coursework with research/thesis writing) are offering vacant positions, aiming at international students. This guarantees an interest in supervising a student on the given topic.
- or they have published in English on your topic: Advanced googling (www.google.com → click the search field → type inurl:uni
site:.de prof and add your keywords → hit the search button → choose a university or research institution and contact the professor)
- they are heading a department in your field: Research Explorer (www.daad.de/research-explorer → Search by subject area →
Choose a research institution from your field and contact the professor in charge of the research group in question)
When establishing contact to a potential supervisor (via email, for example), make sure you address the person by full name and title.
Put information in the “subject line”, like “Research collaboration in xyz...” or else. Introduce yourself briefly in academic terms. Give
reasons why you chose to contact THIS particular person (publications, reference etc.) and why you want to work with THIS particular
person. Make sure you point out what you have to offer to HIM/HER in terms of research. Check spelling before sending the email!
Send a polite reminder if you don’t get a response within 10 days.
newsletter April 2013
page 4
DAAD workshop on “Climate Change Adaptation” in Khartoum and El
Obeid, Sudan
A group of lecturers and students from the TU Dresden led by Prof. Dr. Pretzsch from the Department of Forestry visited
Sudan from 3rd to 15th March 2013 to participate in a workshop on Climate Change Adaptation. This is the only project
with Sudanese partners in the first phase of the DAAD programme “Welcome to Africa” that runs from 2012 to 2015. It
follows a long lasting scientific cooperation especially between the Forestry Departments in Dresden and El Obeid.
Apart from the group from Dresden, representatives from universities in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania joined the workshop that was organized by the Forestry Departments of the University of Khartoum and the University of Kordofan. In
both organizing committees DAAD Alumni played a dominant role.
The first part of the workshop took place in Khartoum. At the opening session on 4th March, short welcome speeches
were held by the representatives of the participating universities, by the DAAD representative in Sudan, Dr. Wolfram Full,
and by the German Ambassador, Rolf Welberts. During the following days, theoretical sessions on the effects of climate
change on land use were held. The participants went for excursions to projects in the vicinity.
For the second part of the workshop the participants moved to El Obeid in Kordofan. There they were welcomed by scientists and local political leaders from El Obeid and Northern Kordofan State. All emphasized the significance of the workshop in regard to the ongoing desertification in Sudan that is at least partly caused by climate change.
Four more days of discussions of this issue and additional excursions to markets, factories, forests and national parks
followed before the workshop ended on 12th March with a big dinner party organized by the Deputy Governor of Northern
Kordofan State. The next workshop of the project partners will take place in Ethiopia.
Wolfram Full
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MBA Management in Healthcare
The UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES NEU-ULM,
GERMANY (HNU) offers an MBA Programme in collaboration with UNIVERSITY OF ELDORET (Kenya) and
MZUMBE UNIVERSITY (Tanzania.). The Programme is
partly tenable at University of Eldoret (UoE) in Kenya and
at Mzumbe University (MU) main campus Morogoro in
Tanzania.
The following documents have to be part of the application:

Application form

Up to date CV

2 Passport size photos

Certified copies of the university awards
Who is the target group?
This course is addressed to managers and administrative
staff of hospitals and other health care related institutions
that include health administrators, medical doctors, nurses
and pharmacists or related professions in health care.
The complete application has to be send to Sylvia Göbel
[email protected]
How can I apply for the course?
Prospective students are required to send their application
online to HNU. The deadline for application is set to be on
the 30th April 2013.
What will it cost?
The tuition fees is € 12,000.- per student for the whole
MBA programme. The fee covers the costs of tuition, exams, materials and the field trip to a chosen African country. It is possible to pay the tuition fees in three installments of € 4,000.- each with the first installment at the
beginning of the course.
More information: Prof. Rainer Burk
www.hs-neu-ulm.de/healthcare-mba.de
newsletter April 2013
DevelopmentRelated Postgraduate Courses
(formerly: Postgraduate Course
for Professionals
with Relevance to
Developing Countries)
From among the large
number of postgraduate
courses offered by German institutions of higher
education, the German
Academic Exchange
Service (DAAD) supports
a carefully chosen
selection of programmes
of particular interest to
junior executives from
developing countries.
These degree courses,
which consist of one or
two years of concentrated
study, provide young,
academically-trained
professionals in leading
positions from developing
countries with the opportunity to engage in postgraduate education and
training in their particular
field or profession, such
as economics, engineering, agriculture, public
health and social sciences.
The courses, mainly at
Master’s level, are open
to candidates with a very
good first degree (not
older than 6 years), at
least one year work experience and preferably a
study leave from the
employer.
Application Deadline at
DAAD Office Nairobi:
31st July
Application Deadline at
DAAD Bonn:
31st August
Application Deadline at
the respective University in Germany:
15th October
More info
page 5
Svenja Mank from
Rostock is the new DAAD
intern
It gives me pleasure to introduce myself as
the new KULTURWEIT volunteer at the
DAAD Regional Office. KULTURWEIT is a
program that aims at a cross-cultural exchange and for that is giving young Germans
the opportunity to work abroad for a certain
period of time.
I am from Rostock, a smaller city in Germany
right at the Baltic Sea. Before I came to
Kenya, I studied educational and communication science at the University of Erfurt which
is situated in the central-eastern part of Germany. After my internship in Nairobi, I intend
to pursue Master’s studies in the field of international and cross-cultural educational work.
I think that living abroad for some time is an
incredibly precious experience. That is why I
am glad to be part of the team of DAAD Nairobi for the next five months where I can help
offering that opportunity to East African students and researchers. Providing those who
are interested in studying in Germany an idea
of what it is
like to study
and live especially in that
country is an
important task
for me in the
near future.
It is the first time that I visit Kenya and subSaharan Africa. I take a great interest in the
Swahili culture. Therefore I already had the
chance to travel to Lamu where among others
I became acquainted with traditional architecture and handicraft. As this was my first contact I am anxious to learn more about that
culture. Therefore I am looking forward to
start a Kiswahili language course soon.
Regional Tracer Workshop at Kenyatta University 11-12
February 2013
The aim of the workshop "Tracer Studies in Eastern Africa: Findings and their Relevance
for University Strategies and Curriculum Development" was the dissemination of the results
of institution-wide tracer studies carried out within the framework of the University Graduate
Tracer Study Training (UNITRACE) participants from Kenyatta University, Moi University and
Addis Ababa University as well as by other researchers from the region and abroad to contribute
to the development of higher education in the region.
The themes of the workshop on the first day focused on the concept and relevance of tracer
studies addressing, among others, the question on the purpose of getting information from the
graduates and what information is needed; the implementation of tracer studies demonstrating
the examples of good practice as well as relevance of tracer studies for the region in general
and individual universities in particular.
The second day focused on a joint UNITRACE and Inter University Council of East Africa
(IUCEA) conference on the "Integration of Tracer Study in Quality Assurance and Management Process". This conference addressed Higher Education Officials and the Commission for
University Education, including Deputy Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deputy Principals, and
Quality Assurance officers from the Eastern Africa region on the potential of graduate surveys in
contributing to the development of higher education in the region. It was noted that graduate surveys are becoming increasingly important for a number of reasons including:
Demand for empirical evidence regarding the professional relevance of Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) study programs using graduate tracer studies.
HEIs require graduate tracer studies for accreditation of study programmes.
HEIs are interested in feedback from their graduates on the quality of education.
Sixty stakeholders participated in the workshop and conference which was organized jointly by
UNITRACE, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the International Centre for
Higher Education Research (INCHER) of the University of Kassel. This workshop and conference are part of the DIES programme (Dialog on Innovative Higher Education Strategies) which
has been jointly coordinated by DAAD and HRK since 2001.
Joy Obando
newsletter April 2013
Master’s Scholarships for Public
Policy and Good
Governance
(PPGG)
This programme is designed
to further qualify future leaders in politics, law, economics and administration according to principles of Good
Governance and to prepare
them in a praxis-oriented
course for their professional
life.
The programme offers very
good graduates with a first
university degree the chance
to obtain a Master’s degree
in disciplines that are of
special relevance for the
social, political and economic
development of their home
country.
The programme targets well
qualified graduates with a
first university degree
(Bachelor or equivalent). The
scholarships are offered both
for young graduates without
professional experience and
for mid-career professionals.
The university degree should
have been obtained during
the six years before the
application for the scholarship. Applicants cannot be
considered if they have been
in Germany for more than 15
months at the time of application.
Application Deadline:
31st July 2013 at DAAD
Office Nairobi
More info
DAAD Regional Office
supports Humboldt Kolleg
2013 to strengthen the
collaboration with the
Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation
From April 9th to 12th, the Humboldt Kolleg
2013 was held at the Technical University of
Kenya in collaboration with the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation. It was mainly supported by the DAAD.
The conference dealt with the topic of Linking
Environmental Research To Kenya’s Development Agenda And Vision 2030. The objective was to bring together key researchers
and stakeholders involved in environmental
research and management in the East African Region. Furthermore, the conference
aimed at strengthening the collaboration of
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and
DAAD.
page 6
ence. They managed to contribute actively in
the success of the conference. The Alexander
von Humboldt Foundation was represented
by Dr. Thomas Scheidtweiler, Head of Division Africa/Middle East.
During the Opening Session on April 10th,
DAAD Nairobi Deputy Director Jutta Quade
gave a lecture on DAAD Funding for Africa
and in particular East Africa. The presentation
was completed by relevant information material which could be collected from a designated table outside the conference hall
manned by further DAAD Nairobi staff.
DAAD Regional Office for East Africa sponsored under its Small Alumni Fund a number
of alumni to take part in this important confer-
Prioritize Quality Assurance, DVCs told
Universities should prioritize quality assurance: This responsibility should especially be taken up
by Deputy-Vice Chancellors in charge of academic affairs (DVC-As). Speaking on the 12th of
February at Kenya Utalii College at a high level meeting on quality assurance involving DVC-As,
the DVC-A of United States International University (USIU), Prof Matthew Buyu, said every university should focus on five imperative areas annually, drawn from the strategic plan of the university. Prof Buyu also suggested that quality assurance should be linked to other areas of the
strategic plan such as performance contracting. The DVCs agreed that universities must not only
appoint QA champions but also put in place succession plans to ensure stability and sustainability.
Mike Kuria