Blog Cultivating Climate Champions: Kenyan Universities Lead the Way

Universities play a crucial role in educating the next generation about climate change. However, they face significant challenges in creating curricula that address growing challenges such as climate change, including how to develop and deliver these courses effectively. The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is collaborating with Kenyan universities to increase the coverage of climate change in higher education, making it more relevant and research based. 

Four Kenyan universities - Murang’a University of Technology, Taita Taveta University, Laikipia University, and Chuka University - have partnered with AICCRA to design and implement innovative curricula for agricultural extension systems. These programs build foundational knowledge and skills needed to manage climate risk. Demonstration farms (established as learning sites for both students and farmers) bridge the gap between theory and practice. Here, students gain hands-on experience with climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies such as zai pits, basins, and climate-smart irrigation systems.

 At these demonstration sites, students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, enhancing their learning through practical engagement. The AICCRA project facilitated the curriculum development process, contributing the team's expertise in curriculum development and climate change.