Department of Research and Development

Dr. Ricot Scutt was born in the Jacmel area. In 1996, he compleed duel degrees in Agronomy and Law at the Universite d’Etat d’Haiti. He then went on to complete both a masters and doctorate at the University of Puerto-Rico - Mayaguez, specializing in eatable roots and tubers and completing his thesis on yams in tropical regions. 

Since 1996, he has worked as a Director of Research in the South-East with the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture in both Jacmel and at the federal level. He has served as a consultant for organizations including CIRAD, the FAO, and USAID. He has published various studies and documents on yams, sweet potatoes, and other crops. He has participated in numerous conferences, training programs, and certificate programs in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto-Rico, Guadeloupe, and France.  

Currently, in addition to his work with the Haitian government, he serves as a Professor of Industrial Crops at Quisqueya University as well as the Vice-Rector of Research and Development at the University of Fondwa. He has been with UNIF since its founding and has been a central force in the growth and development of UNIF. 

The Department of Research and Development at UNIF proposes the strategic vision for research efforts at UNIF to the UNIF Scientific Council, who in turn proposes this vision and research priorities to the UNIF Board of Trustees for approval. Furthermore, the Department of Research and Development ensures that each research project conducted by UNIF faculty adheres to the mission of UNIF to stimulate local development, as well as following professional and ethical standards. It sets research policies and procedurs at UNIF and ensures their just application.

The Department of Research and Development is responsible for creating innovation and new ideas at UNIF. It is also responsible for communicating UNIF research with the academic community as well as Haiti’s poor through extension services to the local peasantry.

This Department also supervises the Office of Projects of UNIF, which sets the policies and procedures of UNIF social projects.

The Vice-Rector of Research and Development is responsible for animating the Scientific Council of UNIF and ensuring that the Council participates actively in University Research.

The Deans of each school report to the Vice-Rector of Research and Development concerning their responsibilities to produce research through their schools.

The Vice-Rector of Research and Development works closely with the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs to ensure that research methodology is embedded into the UNIF curriculum and that students participate in the development of research at UNIF, especially through their graduation projects.