Ghent University visits NEMEDUSSA partners in Kenya

The rector of Ghent University and colleagues are on an academic visit to Kenya this week, to engage with various collaborating universities and research institutes there. This visit serves to strengthen the bonds between Ghent University and its Kenyan research partners and gives the partners the chance to showcase the scientific work they have been doing. The visits also offer the opportunity to discuss future research collaboration and exchange between the institutions.

Institutes visited included NEMEDUSSA partners Kenyatta University, ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology) and IITA (International Institute for Tropical Agriculture). Together, ICIPE/ IITA form the NemAfrica team, a close collaborator with Ghent University on various projects, including NEMEDUSSA. These institutes hosted the UGent delegation in Nairobi, while Moi University received them in Eldoret. Ghent University is the coordinating institute and project manager of the NEMEDUSSA project.

At ICIPE, the UGent delegation made a formal visit to the Director-General of ICIPE, Dr Abdou Tenkouano. A tour of the institution followed. In the ICIPE laboratories, Dr. Danny Coyne (IITA) introduced the staff and students from the NemAfrica team. Staff member Ms Miriam Kungu and her students did a demonstration with nematodes and engaged with the delegation, also offering testimonies on the value of collaboration with UGent.

Inge Dehennin, NEMEDUSSA project manager and part of the visiting delegation, highlighted the different ongoing educational projects between UGent and the NemAfrica team. This includes the VLIR-UOS funded ICP Nema Connect project, as well as the Kenya Track – a mobility exchange where students from the International Master of Science in Agro- and Environmental Nematology (IMaNema) at Ghent University follow courses in Kenya with the NemAfrica team. The role and impact of the NEMEDUSSA project on the partners was also emphasized, as this project is a key driver in enabling the development of nematology education at these institutes and in other universities across Africa.

(pictures courtesy of ICIPE)