On 17 March 2023, the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development (DAEERD) welcomed the Postgraduate Students in the Agricultural Annex Building, Seminar room. This was the first physical meeting with the students since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The previous meetings were held online and relatively subdued. Only a few attended physically in 2022 with the majority of students joining the meeting online.

The meeting brought together the old and new postgraduate students in a hybrid meeting setup, where those who could not attend physically, joined virtually. The purpose of the meeting was to welcome and integrate the old and the new students. The session was also an opportunity to introduce the staff members of the department to the postgraduate students. According to Dr Selma Karuaihe, the Acting Head of the Department, the meeting served as a precursor to more interactions with the postgraduate student. These interactions will ensure that students know how to navigate the department and understand the processes to ensure success in their studies and to keep “the UP finish line” in mind during the duration of their studies. Each student was given an opportunity to introduce themselves and their field of study. We welcome all the students to the department and wish them a successful journey with us.