The International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has launched a new e-learning platform to provide specialised courses in agriculture accredited by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certification Service, the UK.
The courses are created with the support of donors and partners, including the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD).
The platform also gives access to courses designed in collaboration with the e-learning Academy of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
It features both advanced courses for professionals and specialists and intermediate ones for students and beginners in land management, crop diversification, genetics, climate change modeling and adaptation.
The courses are self-paced and include presentations, videos, quizzes and reading materials. Students receive certificates upon successful completion of each course.
Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Acting Director-General of ICBA, said,
"With a growing interest in online education today, we believe it is important to create e-learning opportunities, especially in such fields as agriculture, food security and environmental sustainability."
Dr. Charbel Tarraf, Senior Manager - Corporate Services and Development, ICBA, said,
"We are committed to developing courses and programmes aimed at equipping farmers, students, specialists, researchers and decision-makers with skills and resources for sustainable agricultural development. And this platform is another step in our continuous efforts to cater to our stakeholders' needs. It is a result of close collaboration with our partners such as EAD and the FAO e-learning Academy."
Since its establishment in 1999, ICBA has reached thousands of people from more than 100 countries through its capacity development offerings. The centre provides technical training courses, farmer field schools, fellowships and internships. It pays special attention to developing the capacities of young people and women through tailor-made programs like the ICBA Youth Engagement Society (ICBA YES) and the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA).
Many educational programmes specifically targeting young people are also offered by the Emirates Soil Museum located at ICBA.
Currently available free of charge, the courses cover such subjects as water resources and irrigation management systems in arid regions; integrated land management in the UAE.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
