NEWS:

13 Jul, 2016


Innovation scholars working on their prototypes during the ISP workshop.
Following the official public launch of the Innovations Scholars Programme (ISP) at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) by the Controller of Agriculture Services for Institutions in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Mr. Grey Nyandule Phiri on Tuesday 28th June 2016, LUANAR and Michigan State University held the first two day workshop on Design Thinking for Innovation in African Food Systems from 29-30th June, 2016. The workshop was specifically organized for selected Faculty and Academic Leadership Innovations Scholars comprising staff from different departments and faculties and administration respectively. Facilitators of the workshop were Dr John Medendorp, Project Manager and Dr John Bonnell, Capacity Development and Outreach Specialist from Michigan State University’s Centre for Global Connections.

ISP is an innovative 12 month faculty and academic leadership development program whose objective is to equip LUANAR faculty and academic leaders and administrative personnel with the capacity to innovate through enhancement of the knowledge, skills and qualities required to advance LUANAR towards its institutional strategic goals, The ISP will also serve as a catalyst to advance the overarching objective that support food security, and develop current and next generation entrepreneurial scientists in Malawi and the region.

Participants to the first workshop from the Academic Leadership Track included Professor Emmanuel Kaunda, Deputy Vice Chancellor; Professor Jeremiah Kang’ombe; Mrs. Orpah Kabambe, Head of Department Human Ecology, Miss Zione Kalumikiza, Deputy Head of Department Human Nutrition; Dr. Wilson Jere, Head of Department Aquaculture and Fisheries; Dr Agness Mwangwela, Dean Faculty of Food and Human Sciences and Dr. Patsani Kumambala, Dean Faculty of Agriculture. Other scholars for the academic leadership track include Professor Timothy Gondwe, Ms Sekanawo Kasiya, Dr Phillip Kaonda, Dr Charles Jumbe and Dr Wilfred Kadewa.

Participants from the Faculty Track comprised of Professor Melaku Tefera, Head of Department Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Miss Jacinta Nyaika, Lecturer, Horticulture Department; Mr. Francis Maguza-Tembo, Lecturer, Aquaculture and Fisheries Science Department, Dr Wezi Mkwaila, Senior Lecturer, Horticulture Department; Dr. Sera Gondwe Lecturer, Agribusiness Management Department; Dr. Chiku Mtegha, Lecturer, Veterinary Biomedical Sciences; Dr Abel Sefasi, Head of Horticulture Department, Mr. Evance Chaima, Head of Natural Resources Department (NRC) and Mr. Alinafe Mbendera, ICT Manager.

During the workshop, which is the first of the four planned workshops, the scholars indulged in a number of activities aimed at stimulating the design thinking process in relation to research project proposal development and leadership. Faculty are expected to implement new and innovative process to facilitate student learning: design, development and conduct high quality innovative research that can address current food systems challenges; improve engagement with the private and public sector and communicate the nature and importance of their scientific work to diverse audience. On the other hand the academic leadership track involves a design task force that is expected to lay the groundwork for developing leadership that understands the importance of and supports a culture of innovation at LUANAR.
Participants are expected to design a leadership development program for LUANAR based upon a 12-month design process by understanding the nature of innovation while describing the gaps in leadership development that contribute to these barriers and defining the leadership qualities, knowledge, and skills needs to promote an institutional innovation culture within LUANAR and their specific sections towards an institutional culture of innovation.

Reflecting on the workshop, Zione Kalumikiza, Lecturer in the Human Nutrition and Health Department indicated that the workshop motivated and instilled in her new knowledge and skills to conduct innovative research using the design thinking principles of ‘Empathise Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test’: “Going forward, I shall apply the design thinking processes in my work as a lecturer and as a researcher. Design thinking is sustainable since it allows back and forth engagement with stakeholders and end users; the workshop has helped us realize that there can be numerous solutions to a problem”, said Miss Kalumikiza.

Another participant, Mrs. Orpah Kabambe, Head of the Human Ecology Department enthused that the workshop had shone a new light and perspective in research proposal development. She further revealed that the academic leadership track scholars have plans to train all LUANAR faculty and administrative staff in the use and application of the Design Thinking process: “LUANAR is innovative and we expect all our faculty members and administrative staff to think and act innovatively, in fact discussions are underway to design a similar programme specifically for all LUANAR faculty”, she concluded.

Commenting on the workshop, Dr Andy Safalaoh, the LUANAR-GCFSI’s Innovations Hub Coordinator said that the workshop was a success and that he was particularly pleased with the level of active participation shown by the scholars during the workshop. “I was impressed by the level of participation by the scholars and how quick they grasped the innovation and the design thinking concepts. I hope that the faculty scholars will apply the design thinking process in their research work and I also expect that the academic leaders will be able to develop leadership programs that will promote LUANAR’s vision and mission” said Dry Safalaoh. Concurring with Dr Safalaoh, Dr John Medendorp, one of the facilitators indicated that he expects the scholars to work with students and different stakeholders in completing their research proposals and bring about innovative ideas that will solve problems within the food system in Malawi. John also commended and appreciated the commitment shown by Innovation Hub Coordinator Dr Andy Safalaoh, all ISP scholars, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda and all the ISP support staff.

The second ISP Workshop is expected to take place in late September, 2016.



Written by Christie Kang’ombe