1. BIOMETRY at C.A.V.S Prof Levi Akundabweni (ag Dean Agriculture Faculty & M/s Parin Kurji (Co-ordinator BUCS) Elias Obudho (BUCS), Peter Mong’are (BUCS)

2. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE CAVS Faculty of Agriculture Crop Sc. Dept. Biometry Unit Faculty of Vet. Sc. Responsibilities Service courses for all Mathematics & Statistics for Agric. Faculty Advisory service for all research scientists

3. COURSES- UNDERGRADUATE Mathematics – Preparatory/Review to ensure that there is a common understanding amongst the first year students Statistics 1 – Introductory course: emphasizing the role of data exploration Statistics 2 – Statistical modeling: emphasizing generalization from sample to population Statistics 3 – Lab & Field Expt (optional) bringing the different aspects together, practical issues of investigation, leading to the students’ projects.

4. COURSES -POSTGRADUATE Research methods & Seminars: explores the philosophy of research and general ideas Experimental Design & computers: a nuts-and –bolt course going into the mechanics of analysis and interpretations The Postgraduate course are complementary – Both done by the Biometry Unit and so conducted in a way that allows them to be combined where it leads to better understanding ; especially for seminars where both the aspects can be explored together

5. APPROACH Problem solving, data used Using real or simulated data, including climatic data Integrating computers both for data manipulation and for teaching (CAST) With emphasis on:  Understanding concepts so that the learning can be generalized to other applications  Soft skills

6. OUTREACH - BUCS Biometry Unit Consultancy Services The outreach arm of BUCS (and by extension of the College) Works in partnership with SSC (Reading University) & RSU (ICRAF) to promote good statistics practice Responding to the changing University policy on income generation – BUT with a difference

7. BUCS Philosophy Complete transparency & accountability on all extra work done by the Faculty All activities to be used to enrich student learning Sharing of experiences and expertise for the wider community – including training & advisory services Developing practical, workable collaborations with other institutions, organizations – both in the user and producer areas Use the interactions to provide more relevant training

8. BUCS – Special Projects An example of how Units/Depts can play a pivotal role in the university development GenStat Discovery Edition (working with SSC & ICRAF to negotiate a free GenStat Version for Institutions in Africa, courtesy VSN) CAST for Africa (negotiating with the developer to produce a special free version for Africa, courtesy Rockefeller Foundation grant) Resource Pack (collation of materials and software for wide distribution, courtesy Rockefeller Foundation grant) Undergraduate Computer Lab (courtesy UK Met Office) Postgraduate Computer Lab (courtesy Rockefeller Foundation grant)

9. Conclusions Universities need to be dynamic, pro-active and flexible in their approach –Quality: Yes –Rigidity: No –Substance: Yes –Theory without application: No We need to keep this in mind when preparing our Statistics Curriculum It has been difficult in the past but we have no excuse now!