MaRCCI’s Competency based training of students
From its inception in 2008, the Regional Graduate Programs in Plant Breeding (and MaRCCI arising from them) have focused on producing graduates with the technical and soft-skills to be able to effectively use modern tools to develop and organize dissemination of varieties that are higher yielding, climate resilient, tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Competency based training
These varieties must meet the requirements and preferences of the entire value-chain, including seed producers, seed distributors, farmers, processors, marketers, and consumers. These requirements inform the Product Profiles reflecting Demand-Led Variety Development, a concept that is purposely imparted to the students. The specific competencies emphasized were initially developed through wide-stakeholder involvement organized by RUFORUM, and further developed by expert consultations and through the AGRA-funded project
(Improved MSc in Cultivar Development in Africa, IMCDA) and the Plant Breeding e-Learning in Africa (PBEA, coordinated by Iowa State University). The core competencies for PhD PBB (Plant Breeding and Biotechnology) and MSc PBSS (Plant Breeding and Seed Science) graduates are shown below.The PBB and PBSS programmes associated with MaRCCI have trained 70 PhD’s and 150 MSc’s from 20 SSA countries. These students have conducted research on 22 food-security crops. PBB and PBSS graduates take up positions in National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARI’s, International Agricultural Research Institutes (IARI’s, including CGIAR centers), seed companies, universities, NGO’s, and other organizations involved in crop improvement.
- Have the scientific and practical skills to initiate and manage an efficient and effective crop improvement program
- Have developed critical thinking skills & creative problem solving skills sufficient to develop new methodologies, creative solutions, and innovative research for addressing crop breeding challenges
- Be capable of graduate-level teaching of plant breeding and related subjects at a high-standard university
- Be able to provide leadership to national, regional and international networks of crop improvement specialists
- Be strongly motivated and engaged in contributing to the agricultural policies and development of their own country & SSA
- Have the scientific and practical skills to manage an effective crop improvement program
- Have developed critical thinking skills & creative problem solving skills sufficient to understand and apply continuing developments in crop breeding approaches
- Have sufficient academic background to successfully undertake a PhD at a world class institution
- Have developed broad and strong linkages with other plant breeders in SSA and beyond
- Be strongly motivated to contribute to the agricultural development of their own country and SSA
