Evaluation of its Impact on National Programmes in Insect Science Research & Education

Abstract

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in partnership with several African universities, currently 22 in number, established since 1983 the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS). This is a 3-year PhD training programme in insect science and related 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-year programme 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 vectors of the African continent. It harnesses together both the quality yardsticks of the university system and the insect science expertise of the ICIPE...