 CIAT's
relationship with the University of Florida (UF)
goes back many years. In 2000, a formal Cooperative Agreement
was signed. One of the recently implemented activities is
a USAID-funded pilot program, known as Strengthening Agricultural
and Environmental Capacity through Distance Education (SAEC-DE).
Still in its initial phase, the program has two African partners:
the University
of Nairobi (Kenya) and Makerere
University (Uganda).
The pilot program began in the second semester of 2004, with
UF lecturers teaching distance courses to four CIAT research
assistants, who participated as guest
students. The students channeled their impressions of
the new study method back to the UF/CIAT team, enriching understanding
of related issues.
In the second semester of 2005, the guest student program
was extended to students from Kenya and Uganda. In addition,
and for the first time a
young CIAT researcher enrolled in a full MSC distance
education program in Soil and Water Sciences at UF. While
pursuing her degree, she will continue some of her previous
responsibilities as a key member of her research team.
All the initiatives are contributing to a better understanding
of the issues involved in international distance education
conducted in partnership with universities and CGIAR centers.
The goal is to strengthen institutional and individual capacities
by allowing already employed professionals or staff to pursue
MSc degrees, without having to leave their employment, home,
family, and community. They also will be able to engage in
locally relevant research under the guidance of CGIAR researchers
and university teachers.
More information on the USAID
funded UF-CIAT pilot project
ciat
|
Download PDF Documents