On behalf of the entire staff and students of the Department of Agriculture Education and Extension, it is my honour and privilege to welcome you to the Departmental Website.
HoD AEE
Mrs. Saberah K.T. Ashiono
Our Mission
The mission of our Department is to prepare agricultural professionals to teach, lead, and serve the citizens of Kenya and beyond. Our department’s efforts are aimed at two of the nation’s greatest resources namely Kenyan people and the Agricultural industry.
Quality Objectives
- Increase students’ enrollment by 400 annually.
- Increase students’ % pass from 95% to 97% annually.
- Ensure at least 85% of the students admitted in the department complete their studies within the stipulated time in respective programmes.
- Improve quality passes from 4 distinctions to 10 distinctions in all the three modules annually.
History of the Department:
The Department of Agriculture Education and Extension (AEE), is one of the youngest but fastest growing department in the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology. The department was established in March 2014 by the chief principal, Mr. Eddy Koimet to prepare competent future leaders in agricultural sciences, agribusiness, agricultural resource management and rural development across the country. The other purpose for creation of the department is to provide both ways and means of implementing the mandate given to the Institute to assist in this worthy endeavor by encouraging and promoting best agricultural practices throughout all types of agricultural work.
The Department also undertakes research, consultancy, and community outreach programmes in contributing to the economic and social development of the country. The Department and its staff are committed to facilitation in the acquisition, accumulation, preservation and dissemination of knowledge and the development of requisite skills and attitudes to effectively tackle the challenges of agricultural development of the 21st century and beyond.
The Department is committed to establishing academic and research collaborative linkages with appropriate research institutions, Governmental, non-governmental and private establishments at both local and international levels. The department has a total of 14 academic staff, most of them having Bachelor degrees in Agriculture related specializations and a few of them with master’s degrees and continuing with their PhD degrees. The department is striving hard to ensure that the minimum qualification for its teaching staff is at least master’s degree.
The department also aims to be a centre of excellence and a member of global academic community in Agriculture and other related fields, with emphasis on implementing practical skills. In the long run, the department aims to achieve the following:
- Education for Sustainability: This is based on building the skills that would be needed tomorrow which can only be achieved by taking care of the environment.
- Education for emerging markets: This will be based on having programmes that instill in the students’ minds that the economy grows, incomes increase, the volume of processed food in the market shelves and increases. The department therefore will not only focus in developing a commercial farm, but also will team up with related departments in developing a full-fledged food processing plant.
- Educating the farmer: Using the farms around and far for field attachment so as to integrate the programmes with reality and to incorporate in the programmes innovations at the farmer’s level which has have remained ignored.
Our Departmental Academic Programmes
Our students are of diverse ethnic backgrounds which also include citizens from different countries like Kenya, Uganda, Southern Sudan, and Tanzania. Our department offers the following diploma and certificate programmes:
| Programmes | Course duration | Intakes |
| Certificate in General Agriculture | 7terms | May/September |
| Certificate in Entrepreneurial Agriculture(new) | 7terms | May/September |
| Diploma in General Agriculture | 8 terms | Jan/September |
| Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development | 8 terms | Jan/September |
| Diploma in Entrepreneurial Agriculture | 8 terms | Jan/September |
| Diploma in Food Science Technology (new) | 8 terms | Jan/September |
| Diploma in Environmental Science(new) | 8 terms | Jan/September |
Our diploma programmes are offered both in regular (full-time) and school-based (part-time) modes of learning. During students’ studies, they are exposed to various concepts and techniques in the area of Agriculture which enhances their opportunities for employment and career development. This is to say that the graduates from the department are sufficiently qualified to assume responsibilities in the public sector, private sector and set up their own businesses. The teaching of the courses is designed in away to equip the students with human relations skills that make them strong candidates for careers such as: field demonstrators in educational institutions; food producers, farm managers, agro processors; Extension agents; Agriculture finance representatives; self-employed entrepreneurs, Crop consultants; Ranch managers; International agriculture consultants; Production agriculture managers; Program coordinators; Sales/service representatives and marketers.
Please apply to:
The Chief Principal RVIST P O BOX 7182 NAKURU, enclosing copies of ID card, Birth Certificate, academic certificates(Result Slip / leaving certificate) and non refundable fee of Kshs.500/- to be deposited in RVIST A/C Nakuru Branch at either Kenya Commercial Bank 1101786221 or Co-operative Bank of Kenya 01129087643400. Deposits may be made at any branch country wide. Include your mobile number in your application letter. Accommodation is limited and only available at the Main Campus