Evaluation of its impact on national programmes in insect science research and education

Abstract

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology GCIPE) in partnership with several African universities, Cl1rrently 22 in number, established since 1983 the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS). This is a 3-year Ph.D. training programme in insect science and reJated application areas. It is a programme in which scholars register for a Ph.D. degree at an ARPPlS participating university but undertake coursework and project research at the ICIPE. Between 8 and 10 students in earlier times joined ARPPIS each year for the 3-yearprogramme but more recently the enrollment increased to between 10-15. From 1983 to 1991,86 students from 18 African countries registered in the ARPPIS. ARPPIS motivates and trains African scientists to investigate the biology, physiology, behaviour, population and chemical ecology of insect pests and disease vectors that attack man, his crops or his livestock in Africa, and that so often devastate national development programmes. For many years, little of sustainable impact has been made in the fight against these insect pests and vectors on the continent because Africa has Jacked trained manpower, particularly high level indigenous manpower. ARPPIS is uniquely equipped to meet this need because it provides relevant education and training within Africa itself, for African scientists, on the major insect pests and vee tors of the African continent. It harnesses together both the quality yardsticks of the university system and the insect science expertise of the ICIPE. Each student project is undertaken in the ICIPE laboratory and experimental fields; day-to-day supervision is exercised by the ICIPE scientists. However, ARPPIS also fully involves the registering universities by submitting to them hvice-yearl y progress reports, and by encouraging visits between students and their university advisors. Students visit their universities to present seminars and hold consultations with their supervisors, and university supervisors travel to the lCIPE to review their particular students' laboratory and field work. Students must observe the regulations of their universities throughout the 3...;yearprogramme, so that on the successful submission of a thesis, the Ph.D. degree of the registering university can be awarded. The ARPPIS programme has steadily garnered an impact in Africa over the last 9 years. ARPPIS graduates are in popular demand for employment as lecturers in universities, researchers and research managers in national and regional R & D systems, and in international scientific organisations. The IClPE is particularly gratified and proud to note that all ARPPIS graduates work in Africa. It is with this background of achievement on the one hand, and being on the threshold of the establishment of sub-regional centres in insect science at the M.Sc. level and the proposed establishment of an lOPE Graduate School on the other hand, that the lOPE and its partner universities as well as the ARPPlS graduates themselves, decided to assess the impact of the programme in the continent so far-its successes, its areas of concem, as well as its deficiencies. .............