Post-harvest experts from Writtle College are working with the British Council in Kenya on an African Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (AKTP).
Two post-harvest academics, Chris Bishop and Henry Matthews, along with two PhD students, Seoleseng Tshwenyane and Elsbeth Bingley, are actively presenting their knowledge in Kenya to commercial growers and companies.
In February, as part of Writtle’s link with the AKTP, agricultural lecturer Henry Matthews visited Nairobi and Nakuru in Kenya as an academic advisor, offering advice and support to the Knowledge Transfer Partnership between the fertiliser company MEA and the University of Nairobi.
Post-harvest lecturer Dr Chris Bishop presented a talk entitled ‘Innovation through Collaboration - Adding value to African economies through Knowledge Transfer’ at an AKTP conference in Nairobi.
“It was an encouraging to meet various bright young African graduates who are keen to bridge the gap between the commercial world and African universities,” he said.
The overall objective of Writtle’s visits to Kenya is to offer opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and the commercial world.
The AKTP has been in operation for a year and is a programme organised by the British Council based on a very successful UK model. AKTP is currently being piloted in Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya, with Writtle College being the most active UK higher education institution partner.
