What did you learn at the World Food Day 2010?.

I am sure many of you have visited the various stands for World Food day 2010 at the SSR Botanic Garden. How about each one of us share a few lines on what we have learned or discovered. This could generate a good database of materials for teaching and learning activities. OK guys lets give it a try.
Thank You

Business Angels Forum- Networking Investors

The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius in collaboration with the Mauritius Research Council (under the aegis of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology) is pleased to invite the public in general and researchers who have Innovative Ideas with Commercial Potential, to the Business Angels Forum in the field of Agribusiness/Food Industry. Read more below.

Video - "United against Hunger"

Hello All

This video was created by a group of students of the BSc (Hons) Agric. with spp. in Extension ,Year 3 under the supervision of Mr S. Hurdowar, an academic staff at the FoA. It was shown at the opening ceremony (13/10/2010) of the World Food Day 2010 and was also run daily at our stand at the SSR Botanic Garden, Pamplemousses. Congrats to all of you for the good quality video.

As at 18 Oct 2010 it has been viewed by more that 200 people. This means that our University and Faculty is already known to an international as well as a local audience. This is the power of the WEB 2.0 tools which many of us still fear.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faculty of Agriculture: World Food Day 2010 at the SSR Botanic Garden

I was at the FOA stand today (13.10.10) to coordinate the last minute decorations and display of stands. However, I have derived much pleasure and pride to meet with some of our Alumni who are now working for different agricultural institutions. They were actively involved in preparing their respective stands. I

have not had time to talk with them but I will do so tomorrow. I was also explaining to a group of students that one day they may also be on the side of the fence and they should not  forget that their seed of success is sowed at the FOA, where they are currently being trained. The FoA plays and will continue to play a central role in training future manpower in the agricultural and food sectors.

Our Final year Food Science students ( See Photo below) did a marvellous job again in passing a few messages through their sketch. Bravo!!!

And we also managed to show the video which was mounted by some students of the Extension programme. A big thanks to the Minister and his staff for making this possible, albeit we have gone over the time limit.

I would encourage all of our students to make an effort to visit the various stands where there are a wealth of knowledge and information that are waiting to be captured. All the facets of the Mauritian agriculture are present from small agricultural entrepreneurs to the big one. This is a big learning opportunity, and do ask questions when you visits those stands.

So far we have maintained our visibility and credibility. Keep it up.

Climate Change- Global Work Party- University of Mauritius

At the University of Mauritius, students gathered to plant trees and promote reforestation as a solution to climate change and to urge politicians to pass clean energy policies.

Climate Change- Global Work Party.

The 350.org campaign is named for the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that scientists say is the safe limit for humanity and it aims to spearhead international actions to fight climate change. The 350.org network organized s having a “ work party” all day today (10/10/10). The aim is to get people doing the small things —  planting trees,  installing solar water heaters,  fixing drafty buildings, calling elected officials — that can provide the foundation for a long-term shift in habits and plans related to  limiting human-driven global warming. In Mauritius the Global Work Party , Tree Planting , was launched at Forest Side SSS and the Mon Desert Mon Tresor primary school on Friday 8 Oct 2010. On 10/10/10, there will be over 7,000 similar climate action events taking place in in 188 countries around the world as part of “The Global Work Party.” This synchronized international event is organized by 350.org, and is expected to be the largest day of climate action in history.

Meeting with Stakeholders - Training Needs Assessment & Curriculum Development in the Agriculture and Food Sectors

The Faculty of Agriculture has for years trained students in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, food science and technology, biotechnology, forestry, aquaculture and related fields.  The Faculty develops its curriculum based on national and regional goals, policies and needs and offers programmes of studies at certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate levels.

  The Faculty reacts to changes in the different fields and redesigns its curriculum based on needs.  However, to be able to assess what such needs are, it is necessary to make surveys, to reach out to stakeholders to find out what they would want and to try to match such needs as close as possible at the level of the faculty.  The aim is also to ensure the employability of graduates, optimisation of resources, greater relevance of programmes and conformity with international standards.

In this context, The Faculty of Agriculture is holding a meeting with various stakeholders on  Friday 8 Oct 2010 to assess their training needs and receive feedback on our curriculum in the agriculture and food sectors.

Faculty of Agriculture: World Food Day 2010 at the SSR Botanic Garden

Faculty of Agriculture: World Food Day 2010 at the SSR Botanical Garden, P...:

Hello All
I am pleased to note that the preparation for the World Food Day has made substantial progress. I appreciate the effort made by some students despite their  load of work (lectures, tests, practicals etc) but I guess it pays in the long run. We are now in the final round of preparation and wish all of you to show the same enthusiasm for next week. Well Done