Session 2: The Role of Digital Literacy in Advancing Agricultural Education

Session Overview

This session explores how technology is transforming agricultural education and the critical importance of digital literacy for students in the field.

In the video recording shared prior to the online session—and screened during the session—Dr. Patricia Mathabe, Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Technology and Program Leader for the MSc in Agricultural Technology and Innovation at the Royal Agricultural University (UK), opens with a presentation on the role of emerging technologies in agriculture, emphasizing the growing need for digital literacy skills among agriculture students.

Following this, Dr. Wulystan Pius Mtega, Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics and Information Technology at Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), delivers a brief presentation on the contributions of agricultural libraries in fostering digital literacy and their pivotal role in supporting students’ academic and professional success.

The video concludes with a collaborative discussion between Dr. Mathabe and Dr. Mtega, exploring how library services evolve to ensure students and faculty are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in the agricultural sector.

Speaker Bios

Dr. Patricia Mathabe

Dr. Patricia Mathabe holds a PhD in Plant Sciences from Montana State University, USA, an MPhil in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from the Vaal University of Technology, South Africa. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Technology and Program Leader for the MSc in Agricultural Technology and Innovation at the Royal Agricultural University.

Dr. Mathabe integrates various technology modules into her teaching, which spans undergraduate to postgraduate levels. Her research interests include the application of advanced technologies in agriculture, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones. Among her many accolades, Dr. Mathabe is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright and Nelson Mandela scholarships. Most recently, she was recognized with a global award as a “Woman Changing the World in Agriculture and Education.”

Dr. Wulystan Pius Mtega

Dr. Wulystan Pius Mtega is an Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics and Information Technology at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, where he also serves as Director of the Sokoine National Agricultural Library. His research focuses on knowledge management systems, the digitization of information services, records management, and social informatics.

Dr. Mtega has significantly contributed to the field through his extensive publications on knowledge management systems, data management, and social informatics. For more information about his work, visit his research profile.

Online Session Format

Duration: Approximately two hours

Date & Time

  • March 18, 2025
  • 13:00 – 15:00 (CET time)

Zoom Link

NIAGARA Grant partners invite you to a scheduled Zoom meeting hosted by OsloMet.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://oslomet.zoom.us/j/64845383122?pwd=HgQhxZ5F6ZXFBGUL7A9nVLn7OFWuRg.1

Meeting ID: 648 4538 3122

Password: 857657