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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, AS OFFERED BY THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Professor F.K. Lenga (PhD), Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, P. O. Box 62000, Nairobi KENYA. JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY. of AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY.
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, AS OFFERED BY THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Professor F.K. Lenga (PhD), Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, P. O. Box 62000, NairobiKENYA
JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY of AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY
A modern, technologically-oriented university of Agriculture and Science, located approx. 40 km from Nairobi • Consists of 3 Faculties and 1 School • Student population of approximately 6000, residing both on and off campus • Agriculture faculty has approximately 1000 students
Faculty of Agriculture consists of three departments; • Biomechanical and Environmental Engineering (BEED) • Food Science and Technology (FST) • Horticulture • Students of the faculty undergo training in research methodology at both under-graduate, and post-graduate levels
Research Methodology;Training Objectives • To impart skills for problem identification • To teach proposal writing, in preparation for problem solving • To introduce tools for project implementation • To impart skills in data analysis and interpretation
Training Objectives…contd. • To impart skills for technical, financial and activities report writing • For project evaluation and impact assessment methodologies • To teach oral presentation skills for seminars, conferences and colloquia • To cultivate professional research ethics
The Undergraduate Program • Research methodology (tools) is taught in the 2nd year of study, and comprises two distinct courses; • Statistics • Experimental Design • These units are taken as a prerequisite for Student Research Projects (2-3 units) which are courses covered during the 3rd, 4th and 5th years of study, where applicable (This is where proposal writing, project implementation, data analysis and interpretation, oral presentation and report writing skills are imparted and evaluated)
Post graduate (M.Sc) Program Past Situation (from inception to 2004/2005 academic year) • FSPT and Horticulture studied Research Methodology as a 1st year course • FSPT, Horticulture and BEED underwent a course in Advanced Experimental Design during the same year
M.Sc Program…contd. Faculty programs undergo continuous evaluation (after every cycle) Beginning ac 2005/2006, research methodology coursework will consist of: • Statistics & Expt. Design in Semester 1 • Research Methodology in Semester 2 The two units will be compulsory for all postgraduate students in the faculty
Conclusion • The faculty is continually upgrading its course content to incorporate modern research methods, including the use of computer based programs and data analysis software (e.g. Genstat, SPSS and SAS) • This is in line with our vision to produce leaders in research and innovation, in various scientific and technological fields such as agriculture.