Page 35 - AERC Strategic Plan 2 July2020

THE AERC 2020–2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

funding partners and the changing global economic environment; (ii) lack of competency
and competing needs of experts to develop and deliver blended-learning materials;
and (iii) deficient collaboration from partner universities and infrastructural and human
capacity to implement blended learning.

The Activities

A comprehensive review of the operational modalities of the CMAP, CMAAE, and CPP
universities will be conducted to verify continued validity and identify any changes in the
initial design assumptions, risks, and sustainability. This will be done by:

» Conducting subject-specialist workshops to review and develop curricula for
CMAP, CMAAE, and CPP elective and core courses;

» Undertaking of stakeholders’ consultation and sensitization; commissioning
of necessary consultancies; conducting workshops and training on blended
learning and developing e-learning modules for CMAP and CMAAE elective
courses; development of blended-learning platforms; piloting of modules;
monitoring and evaluation; final roll-out; and implementation;

» Conducting joint and shared facility for CMAP, CMAAE, and CPP elective courses;
» Conducting stakeholders and subject-specialist workshops to identify and
develop a set of elective courses for CPP students seeking to specialize in
Agricultural and Applied Economics; and

» Developing and implementing a quality index with various tiers/levels of quality
for use to evaluate the economics curricula of universities seeking accreditation.

The Outputs

AERC aspires to achieve graduate programmes in economics across Africa to rise to the
global standard both in quality and relevance through the innovations embedded in
this strategy. Restructured collaborative training programmes supported by blended
learning in the delivery of elective courses at the joint facilities will enhance quality,
operational efficiency, and reach in the training of economists in SSA. An integration of
Agricultural and Applied Economics into CPP will increase the pool of highly qualified
agricultural-economics policy analysts, researchers, and policymakers/thought leaders.
It is also envisaged that external recognition of African universities accredited with ‘Mark
of Quality’ will foster the development, maintenance, and growth of standards in the
training of economists on the continent while reinforcing AERC’s brand value.

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