NAIROBI, Kenya, August 13, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Public policy practitioners and students in Africa now have a chance to study a specialised masters course offered in twelve universities, and uniquely designed to meet the continent’s needs, which was launched in Nairobi, Kenya today.
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/pasgr-logo.jpg
MRPP logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/mrpp.jpg
See PASGR-MRRP brochure: http://www.apo-mail.org/PASGR-MRPP-brochure.pdf
Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/1308155.jpg (PASGR Executive Director Prof Tade Aina welcomes guests to MRPP launch)
Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/1308154.jpg (PASGR Board member Ambassador Prof Judith Bahemuka makes her remarks)
Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/1308153.jpg (MRPP unveiling L-R Mr Henry Rotich, Prof Tade Aina, Dr Willy Mutunga, Prof Judith Bahemuka and Hon Julius Melly)
Photo 4: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/1308152.jpg (L-R Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga, Prof Tade Aina, Dr W Gregor-Drop, Hon Julius K Melly, Mr Henry Rotich Cabinet Secretary)
Photo 5: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/13082151.jpg (Kenya Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga makes keynote speech at MRPP launch)
The Master of Research and Public Policy (MRPP) has been developed over the last three years through collaboration between the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) (http://www.pasgr.org/) and 12 African universities.
The course, the first of its kind in Africa, prepares students for careers in diverse fields, including: Government, universities, think tanks, research organisations, civil society organisations, media and development agencies.
The course content was developed by academics from the partner universities, with input from scholars from respected European public policy institutions.
It equips students to identify and address national developmental challenges and issues that affect people in their daily lives, such as security, management of natural resources, hunger, HIV/AIDS and women’s empowerment.
Students taking up the two-year full time course have a choice of two career pathways: Research and Policy Practice.
“The Research option familiarises students with the use of data to undertake policy research or pursue advanced scholarship, while Policy Practice equips students to use research to influence, inform or shape public policy,” said Prof Tade Akin Aina, the Executive Director of PASGR. “MRPP is one of the key pillars of our community of practice and thought working together to build excellence in research, training and higher education for public policy in Africa”.
The launch event in Nairobi was presided over by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, Mr Henry Rotich, and the Chief Justice, Dr Willy Mutunga. Other dignitaries at the event were: The deputy chair of the Education Committee in the Kenyan Parliament, Hon Julius Kibiwott Melly, vice chancellors and academics, and PASGR Board member Amb Prof Judith Bahemuka. It was also attended by students already enrolled in the programme, researchers and policy practitioners from NGOs, development partners and PASGR staff.
Speaking before officially launching the programme, Mr Rotich noted that effective public policy could only be a reality if the people in charge possessed a deep understanding of the challenges that face Africa, based on solid and credible research.
“Having seen the course content of this new programme, I have no doubt the MRPP will contribute towards efficient, effective and transparent public policy,” he said. Drawing from his personal experience while beginning his postgraduate studies, Mr Rotich expressed his intent to lead a public service fellowships initiative through which students could seek funding to undertake the MRPP.
The programme has already been rolled out in eight universities where 150 have enrolled, with the first cohort set to graduate next year. It is being offered in Egerton and Maseno universities in Kenya; University of Dar es Salaam and Mzumbe in Tanzania; Jos, and Ibadan universities in Nigeria; and Ugandan Christian and Ugandan Martyrs universities.
Hon Melly challenged governments in Africa to enrol their staff for the new programme and offer opportunities to those students seeking work experience.
“I strongly commend the attention paid to relevance of this course as well as the innovative learning approaches. These are valuable learning lessons for us as we grapple with the dilemma of the mismatch between education and the labour market, and the diminishing quality of education,” he added.
As he launched the programme, Kenyan Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga stated that research was key to identifying African interests, and that the continent’s interests should in turn inform Africa’s relations with the West.
Prof Aina thanked the partnering universities for their diligence and contribution to the realisation of the programme.
“The MRPP is working, thanks to the efforts of everybody who has been there throughout the journey — my predecessor, the Steering Committee and PASGR colleagues,” he said. “For us at PASGR, the MRPP is special as one of the key pathways to building the next generation of public policy leaders and researchers in Africa”.
Academics and students who spoke during the launch gave accolades to the new programme, observing that it was already transforming teaching and learning at the universities.
They were full of praise for the innovative pedagogy, which embraces interactive teaching approaches, such as simulations, debates, role-plays and project-based learning, field experience and case studies.
“My students are more eager to attend my lectures…” said a lecturer.
Another lecturer reported that lecturers from other faculties were interested in adopting the MRPP teaching method (using e-cases).
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR)
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Wanja Njogah
Email: wanja@pasgr.org
Tel: +254 729 111 031
+254 731 000 065
Visit http:// www.pasgr.org
Founder universities
The 12 founder universities are: University of Dar es Salaam, University of Ghana, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Jos, Egerton University, Maseno University, Mzumbe University, Uganda Christian University, Uganda Martyrs University, University of Sierra Leone and University of Botswana.
Feedback on the programme by students and lecturers indicates that the innovative teaching techniques are contributing to improved learning.
Course structure and delivery
The MRPP is a full-time two-year programme covered in four semesters, including field experience and thesis preparation.
The programme entails five courses in each of the two semesters during the first year. This is followed by a long break for field experience in a policy or research institution during which students refine research ideas and start data collection. In the second year, three courses are offered, while the rest of the time is devoted to thesis development.
About PASGR
The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) is an independent, non-partisan pan-African not-for-profit organisation established in 2011 and located in Nairobi, Kenya. Currently engaged in more than 12 African countries, PASGR works to enhance research excellence in governance and public policy that contributes to the overall wellbeing of the citizens.
In partnership with individual academics and researchers, higher education institutions, research think tanks, civil society organisations, business and policy communities both in the region and internationally, PASGR supports the production and dissemination of policy relevant research; designs and delivers suites of short professional development courses for researchers and policy actors; and facilitates the development of collaborative higher education programmes.
Our vision is ‘a vibrant African social science community addressing the continent’s public policy issues’. PASGR’s three core programmes (Research, Higher Education, and Professional Development & Training) bring together the right mix of universities, research institutions, government, policy actors, researchers and academics to:
• Establish and sustain partnerships at national/regional and international levels for advancing research, higher education and training;
• Facilitate the creation of policy and research communities;
• Enhance the institutionalisation of a research culture in Africa’s universities and research organisations; and,
• Coordinate a collaborative Master of Research and Public Policy with universities in Africa.
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