Open Access Week

In the context of the open access week, I attended a one week training organised by the VCILT and AUF on open access softwares, in particular, eXe and GIMP. It has enriched my scope on these 2 free tools which can produce quality work once it is mastered. During the week, the participants developed banners using GIMP and a learning material in their field of specialisation. Some of us discoverd that the eXe is not necessarily can be used for other purposes as well, (creating a mini website,).
It was indeed an enjoyable open week.
Thanks to the VCILT, Team Mrs Guness and Mrs Narainen and Mrs Jayantee Gukhoo of the AUF, Reduit.
Bravo.

Knowledge Fair on Climate Change

The Ministry of Enviromnent & Sustainable Development in collaboration with national and international stakeholders is implementing national activities under the Africa Adaptation Programme. The completion of the project is scheduled by the end of December 2012.

In this context, this Ministry in collaboration with national and international stakeholders is organizing a three-day Climate Change Knowledge Fair at the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, University of Mauritius, Reduit from 29 to 31 October 2012 with a view to share findings, experiences and best practices of the different activities being implemented by the various organisations under AAP and also raise awareness of the public in general on the services being offered by the key public and private sector institutions and NGOs in relation to climate change.

You are all cordially invited to attend.

Training in WEB 2.0 Tools in January 2013

DEAR VALUED GRADUATES, PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC) will be holding the third and final training workshops on the use of Web 2.0 tools Agricultural and allied sectors on the 14-18 January, 2013.  The aim of the workshop is to help our stakeholders to better manage information, improve its dissemination as well as improve collaboration among various stakeholders. 

I consider that your exposure to web based tools will consolidate YOUR capacity to facilitate information exchange and sharing in the agricultural and associated area at the national, international and regional level.

I therefore wish you will avail of this opportunity to get trained in this fast moving area.

Warm Regards and Best Wishes.

 Professor Yasmina Jaufeerally FAKIM

Dean of Faculty

APPLICATIONS

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please click on this link to complete the online form.

Deadline for applications: 3 December, 2012

Feedback

The organisers will inform successful applicants about the status of their application two week before the commencement of the course. Successful applicants will receive confirmation emails and others will be duly informed of the results of their application.

 TRAINING DETAILS

Venue: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Dates: 14-18 January, 2013 (9:00 - 17:00)

Technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace. Simple, open source internet-based applications and services designed to enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all. These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 and Social Media enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation EU-ACP (CTA) has a mandate to facilitate access to and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development in 78 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). Supporting the adoption of Web 2.0 applications represents a great opportunity for meeting it.

The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius (UoM) in collaboration with CTA and the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC) will host a 5-day  Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity on 14-18 January 2013. Participants will be introduced to selected web 2.0 applications including social media and will learn how to use them hands-on.

The Learning Opportunity will cover advanced online searching, getting information served via alerts and RSS, collaborating remotely using wikis and Google Docs, using VoIP, online mapping and social networking. Participants will get a chance to see what others have done, get hands-on experience on how to use innovative applications, and assess how they could adopt these innovations within the context of their work and organisation.

This Learning Opportunity forms part of CTA initiatives that support development partners in networking, accessing and disseminating information more effectively.

Programme of the Learning Opportunity

·         Introduction to the participatory World Wide Web (Web 2.0)  and to social media;

·         Search Magic: How to conduct advanced multilingual online searches;

·         Information Self Service: How to get selected information served to you via alerts and RSS feeds;

·         Remote collaboration: How to develop content remotely using wikis and Google Docs;

·         Online mapping: How to locate your organisation and your projects on an online map;

·         How to communicate voice over the internet at no cost;

·         Online publishing (micro-blogging and blogging);

·         Professional / corporate social networking (LinkedIn and Facebook);

·         Web 2.0 self-instruction (introduction to IMARK)  

Participants - Eligibility and responsibilities

Participation in the Learning Opportunity is free of charge, but subject to acceptance by the organisers. 

Eligibility criteria

·         be computer literate and conversant with browsing the Internet;

·         have regular access to a computer (ownership of a computer is an advantage);

·         be competent in  the use of the English language;

·         have an active personal e-mail account;

·         be actively engaged in agriculture and rural development / natural resource management / biodiversity conservation in the domains of ICT for development (ICT4D), policies, markets; publishing, communication and media; and

·         be resident in the Republic of Mauritius.

Responsibilities

Accepted participants will be responsible for all costs related to their travel to and from the venue at the Faculty of Agriculture, their accommodation, breakfast and supper and their daily subsistence allowances.

Entitlements

During each event, the organisers will provide access to computers, lunch and refreshments, and distribute copies of CTA publications and instructional material.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY MAGAZINE

The Agricultural Society launched its FIRST online magazine on 13th of September 2012. It provides information on the past and forthcoming events/activities of the society.

Click here to view the magazine 

Agricultural Society Activities _ Clean Up Campaign

CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN AT ILE AUX BENITIER:

The Agricultural Society under the leadership of Ms Zainal Kureeman, participated in a Clean Up Campaign on the 30th of September 2012 which was organised by Mission Verte - Ile Maurice on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th. 13 students from the Faculty participated and contributed to the success of this event.

The theme of this event was ''Ramass plastik fer li vinn artistic l'ile vin manifik.'' effect. (Pick up plastic, make it into something artistic and help keep our island beautiful)
  
The project aims at raising the awareness of stakeholders involved in environmental management. 

It was shocking to see the amount of waste on the islet, as shown in the pictures.

Find out more details at: http://mu.onefutureoneplanet.org/ideas-actions/ile-aux-benitiers/ and http://mu.onefutureoneplanet.org/general/the-benitiers-island-project/

Congratulations to the Team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why genetically engineered food is dangerous: New report by genetic engineers

Earth Open Source press release 17 June 2012
Aren’t critics of genetically engineered food anti-science? Isn’t the debate over GMOs (genetically modified organisms) a spat between emotional but ignorant activists on one hand and rational GM-supporting scientists on the other?
A new report released today, “GMO Myths and Truths”,[1] challenges these claims. The report presents a large body of peer-reviewed scientific and other authoritative evidence of the hazards to health and the environment posed by genetically engineered crops and organisms (GMOs). And the debate continues for ever while we most of us must have has a taste of some GMOs in what ever form.

Happy Read at Earth Open Source