This service charter outlines the commitments made by Agricultural Economics to serve its clientele and stakeholders. This is in line with the CAVS wide service charter which quality service to its customers. The aim of this document is to set the scope and levels of customer-services that can be expected and realistically delivered
within the resources available to the Department. This service charter specifies the commitments of the staff to the goal of ensuring that the Department of Agricultural Economics (AGECON) remains the hub of academic
excellence not only in Kenya but also in East, Central and Southern Africa. The charter includes an AGECON service policy, programmes review processes, an outline of services provided, some service benchmarks, description of AGECON partners and stakeholders and their contributions, a description of Extension and
outreach activities and memorandum for collaborations. Please communicate with us through email provided at the end of this service charter.
Prof. John Mburu
Chairman
Department of Agricultural Economics
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Agricultural Economics is the oldest and best established department in Kenya. The
Department was founded in 1971, within the UoNs College of Agriculture and
Veterinary Sciences. The Department has two undergraduate and two postgraduate
academic programmes. The MSc in CMAAE is a regional programme for 16
Agricultural Economic Departments in the East, Central and Southern African region
and the MSc AICM is a RUFORUM programme offered in East African universities.
The popular BSc Agribusiness Management and the interfaculty BSc Agricultural
Education and Extension are the two undergraduate programmes offered by the
Department. The Department provides research and consultancy services to public
and private sectors, NGOs, Parastatals, International research centres, CIMMYT,
ICRISAT, ICRAF and CIAT at different interfaces. The department builds capacity
for the analysis of development issues in agricultural/industry sectors through its
staff and students (MSc/PhD) undertaking collaboration research programmes with
professionals in other departments, regional and international collaborators. The
Department enjoys partnerships through the public and private sectors that have
continued to provide employment opportunities for our graduates. The Department
has a strong link with the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) through
CMAAE programme. The Department use workshops, publications, seminars series
and community Fora to disseminate theses research findings to stakeholders, and
get feedback on its research results. A strong pool of researchers and publishers in
the department spearhead intellectual exchange between its researchers by writing
collaborative research proposals, inviting guest lecturers and encouraging exchange
programmes.
Vision
To be an international centre of excellence for training, research and extension,
outreach activities, environmental concerns in order to realize sustainable and
improved livelihoods for all.
Mission
To promote, support and improve the utilization of research findings, training
programmes, outreach capabilities and collaborative networks among agricultural
and applied economic specialists in shaping the growth of agricultural productivity for
poverty reduction, secure livelihoods and natural resource management.
Core Values
In order that it realizes its stated vision and mission, the Department shall embrace
the following core values:
Professionalism
Teamwork
Creativity and innovations
Integrity, Honesty, Quality
Ethical practices
Leadership
In order that it realizes its stated vision and mission, the Department shall embrace
the following core values:
Professionalism
Teamwork
Creativity and innovations
Integrity, Honesty, Quality
Ethical practices
Leadership
Core Functions
The core functions of the Department of Agricultural Economics include:
Training/Teaching, Research Consultancy, Outreach Activities.
Curriculum Development and Review
Offer degree programmes leading to Diploma, BSc, MSc, PhD.
Setting and Coordination of Departmental Examinations.
Supporting and participation in Department, Faculty, College Committee and
activities.
Publications,
Attend Conferences, Seminars, Workshops.
2.0 OUR REGULAR CLIENTS INCLUDE
Undergraduate Students
Masters and PhD students
Potential Students
Research Associates
Other researchers
Departmental Board Members
Collaborating institutions
Donor/Grants agencies
NGOs
Government officers
International organizations
University of Nairobi Employees
Members of Public/Community
Parents/Guardians
Suppliers
Alumni
Government ministries
3.0 COMMITMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
In our service delivery, we pledge that
Orientation will be given to all our students during the first week of reporting to
the campus.
Upon registration and during orientation a student shall be issued with clear
guidelines on academic programmes, timetables, examinations and class
attendance rules, student support services and student information handbook.
All lecturers shall be conducted fully and on time, as indicated on approved
timetable
All exams shall be set in time, internally and externally moderated and forwarded
to examinations office in time for printing and proofreading.
Examinations shall be supervised by relevant lecturers, marked in time,
submitted to the external examiners and results discussed at departmental
meeting before forwarding to the faculty board meeting.
Disciplinary cases for examinations cheating, plagiarism, misconduct shall be
completed within one week at departmental level.
Disciplinary cases for students and staff shall be completed within one month.
Postgraduate supervisors for Master or Doctoral degrees will give feedback to
their students within two weeks after receiving a project or thesis.
The Departmental library shall be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays.
The process of recruitment and promotion, shall be completed within three
months, from advertisement to issuance of letters.
Staff performance appraisal shall be conducted every academic year as
scheduled by the university.
Part-time lecturers shall be paid at end of semester after submitting all scripts,
marksheets, grades and signing for them.
Procurement of goods and services will be done within one month, and in line
with the university procurement regulations.
The Department of Agricultural Economics shall maintain a healthy, clean, safe
and pleasant learning environment.
The Department is an illicit drug free zone and a no smoking area.
Staff and students shall be required to go on an academic trip at least once every
academic year.
Transport for classes outside CAVS and field trips shall be provided on time as
per approved requests.
Staff and students shall be expected to participate in sports and games.
Teaching aids, LCD, computers, projectors, whiteboard and pen, flip charts etc.
shall be available for use by teaching staff.
All telephone calls shall be attended to within 30 seconds.
All academic programmes shall be put in e-learning ODEL and made available to
registered students.
All academic staff shall be expected to provide their teaching notes for
conversion into e-learning/ODEL modes of delivery.
All departmental activities, workshops, research, conferences, seminars, guest
lecturers, publications, presentations, outreach activities shall be posted on the
website.
All students shall join professional clubs in their disciplines.
All Staff and students shall be expected to use provided ICT services and
departmental computer lab.
All students participate in farm practice and agricultural education and extension
undertake both farm practice and teaching practice.
Staff and students shall participate in outreach activities, tree planting day, fun
day and end of year party.
The Department is a corruption free zone.
Staff and students of the Department of Agricultural Economics are committed to
providing excellent service to clients and behave well with dignity, provide accurate
information, are approachable, helpful, respectful and professional. In their service
delivery they act with care, are consistent, comply with rules, use available resources
efficiently and treat everybody equitably free from negative ethnicity.
Expectations from Clients
The Department of Agricultural Economics is committed to providing excellent service to
clients and you should expect our staff to:
Exhaustively cover the approved syllabi.
Promptly and fairly process examination results.
Maintain lecture halls, offices, hostels and other facilities.
Fairly and justly follow disciplinary procedures
Avail ICT for use
Behave honestly, courteously and with integrity
Promptly clear students and visitors
Increase proposal writing and funding for research
Aggressively market consultancy, our programmes and research services
Have an efficient and effective performance appraisal system
Be consistent and committed to equitable treatment for all
Comply with the rules governing University of Nairobi.
Use resources available in the most efficient manner.
Provide professional and consistent standards of services.
Donors and Partners
Prompt research output
Honouring Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Involving research institutions,
industry and other partners
Recognizing and acknowledging donors, sponsors, funders of our research and
teaching programmes
Ensure transparency and accountability
Suppliers
Prompt processing of payment for services and goods delivered.
Alumni
Involvement of Alumni in the operation and development of the department.
Community
Maintenance of University community fruitful interactions
Sharing research findings and outreach activities with community
Extent and disseminate our skills, knowledge and technologies to community.
Invite community to Departmental workshops and seminars for information sharing
Expectations of the Department
The Department of Agricultural Economics shall expect the following from its
clients/stakeholders:
Treat its staff with respect and courtesy
Provide sufficient and accurate information
Support its programmes and research
Observe the rules and regulations governing our programmes
Provide prompt feedback and comments on the services rendered
Support its extension and outreach activities.
Support Services
For efficient management of its functions, the department expects quality support
services from:
Faculty Board, College Management Board and College Academic Board.
Other departments, faculties, schools, institutes which offer its students teaching
services and where its staff offer services
Information and Communication Technology Centres.
Center for Open and Distant Learning (CODL)
University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd (UNES)
Finance, Grants, Legal offices
Procurement office
Transport section
Maintenance section
Feedback
Send to the Department complaints or compliments through any channel that is
appropriate to you including suggestion box in the Department, Departmental e-mail,
box or to individual staff including
Chairman,
Department of Agricultural Economics
P.O. Box 29053 – 00625
Nairobi, Kenya.
You can call us on:
020-2091967
Reach us through E-mail:
agecon@uonbi.ac.ke
Location:
We are located on ground floor, 1st Floor and 2nd floor 8.4.4 Building College of
Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences.