Distance Education for the Americas Beginning of a Joint Program IICA-CATIE ADEC Annual Meeting, May 2006

Mission To support the Member States in their pursuit of progress and prosperity in the hemisphere through the modernization of the rural sector, the promotion of food security, and the development of an agricultural sector that is competitive,, technologically prepared, environmentally managed, and socially equitable for the peoples of the Americas. To support the Member States in their pursuit of progress and prosperity in the hemisphere through the modernization of the rural sector, the promotion of food security, and the development of an agricultural sector that is competitive,, technologically prepared, environmentally managed, and socially equitable for the peoples of the Americas.

Vision To transform IICA into a development agency designed to promote sustainable agricultural development, food security and prosperity in the rural communities of the Americas. To transform IICA into a development agency designed to promote sustainable agricultural development, food security and prosperity in the rural communities of the Americas.

Brief history of IICA 1942: Founded as The Inter-American Institute Of Agricultural Sciences 1942: Founded as The Inter-American Institute Of Agricultural Sciences Located in Turrialba, Costa Rica Located in Turrialba, Costa Rica Purpose: Research on strategic tropical crops Purpose: Research on strategic tropical crops Established as a Center for Education and Research. Established as a Center for Education and Research.

Brief history of IICA 1944: First multilateral Convention on IICA was signed 1944: First multilateral Convention on IICA was signed 1948: Creation of OAS, IICA became the specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System. 1948: Creation of OAS, IICA became the specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System. 1964: 21 Member States of the OAS became members of IICA 1964: 21 Member States of the OAS became members of IICA 1970’s: IICA carries out multinational programs for hemispheric projection 1970’s: IICA carries out multinational programs for hemispheric projection Moves Headquarters to San José Moves Headquarters to San José

Brief history of IICA In 1973: Creation of the Tropical Agriculture Research and Education Center (CATIE) in Turrialba In 1973: Creation of the Tropical Agriculture Research and Education Center (CATIE) in Turrialba 1979: Leading role in agricultural development and integration. 1979: Leading role in agricultural development and integration. Creation of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA). Creation of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA). Renamed the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. (29 Member States) Renamed the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. (29 Member States)

Strategic Areas of technical Cooperation Education and Training Education and Training Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation Sustainable Rural Development Sustainable Rural Development Policies and Trade Policies and Trade Agribusiness Development Agribusiness Development Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agriculture Health and Food Safety New Hemispheric Programs Biotechnology Biotechnology Bio-Energy Bio-Energy

IICA Offices and Member States in the Americas

Distance Training Center CECADI Objective: To support training and agribusiness development within public and private institutions in the member countries; and to facilitate the role of technical cooperation as part of IICA's educational mission. Objective: To support training and agribusiness development within public and private institutions in the member countries; and to facilitate the role of technical cooperation as part of IICA's educational mission.

CECADI Services: Adaptation of course contents to multimedia format Adaptation of course contents to multimedia format  Adaptation of teaching materials to multimedia formats for distance training  Distance education via multimedia and via multimedia and videoconferencing videoconferencing

CECADI Services: Interactive CD-Rom courses Interactive CD-Rom courses Online Training with McGill University Online Training with McGill University Videoconferencing System with GDLN network (World Bank) Videoconferencing System with GDLN network (World Bank)

Mission Contribute to poverty reduction and rural development in the American tropics, through the promotion of diversified and competitive agriculture and sustainable management of our natural resources Contribute to poverty reduction and rural development in the American tropics, through the promotion of diversified and competitive agriculture and sustainable management of our natural resources

Regular Members 1- Belize 2- Bolivia 3- Colombia 4- Costa Rica 5- Dominican Republic 6- El Salvador 7- Guatemala 8- Honduras 9- Mexico 10- Nicaragua 11- Panama 12- Paraguay 13- Venezuela 14- IICA

Our Strength Lies in the integration of our programs Research OutreachEducation

Education Program IS THE OLDEST IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OUR GRADUATE SCHOOL, CREATED IN 1946

Post-Graduate Programs M.Sc. & Ph.D. Tropical Agroforestry, Tropical Agroforestry, Integrated Watershed Management, Integrated Watershed Management, Forestry and Biodiversity Management, Forestry and Biodiversity Management, Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Agriculture, Environmental Economics. Environmental Economics.

OUTREACH Outreach activities include: Joint research with partner organizations Participative work with communities Training and dissemination of new knowledge and technologies Support for improving national policies Technical assistance and national and regional institutional strengthening Validation of new technologies in the field

RESEARCH CATIE is a regional platform for the generation of cutting-edge technology and knowledge in agricultural and silvopastoral systems, socio-economics, integrated watershed management, competitiveness of eco-enterprises, agroforestry, forestry, climate change, biotechnology, as well as natural resource conservation and management of biodiversity.

TRAINING Strategic Courses: CATIE strengths Agroforesty Agroforesty Forest Mangement Forest Mangement Silvopastoral systems Silvopastoral systems Protected Areas Protected Areas Specialized Courses according to demand Virtual Classroom for video conferencing

IICA-CATIE Joint Program Distance Education IICA-CATIE Joint Program Distance Education

IICA-CATIE Historical Alliance: Extensive presence in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries IICA-CATIE Historical Alliance: Extensive presence in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries Shared objective: Provide educational services to Member Countries Shared objective: Provide educational services to Member Countries Development of multimedia courses in order to establish distance education programs Development of multimedia courses in order to establish distance education programs Contacts, agreements, and projects with various Universities in the USA, Latin America and the Caribbean Contacts, agreements, and projects with various Universities in the USA, Latin America and the Caribbean

Build a joint program in distance education for the Hemisphere Build a joint program in distance education for the Hemisphere Develop joint educational materials to carry out distance education programs Develop joint educational materials to carry out distance education programs Identify and adapt (tropicalizar) available courses from ADEC members for Latin America and Caribbean target groups Identify and adapt (tropicalizar) available courses from ADEC members for Latin America and Caribbean target groups Develop strategic alliances and joint projects to enhance distance education in the Hemisphere Develop strategic alliances and joint projects to enhance distance education in the Hemisphere Learn from the experiences of ADEC’s members in developing materials and offering courses Learn from the experiences of ADEC’s members in developing materials and offering courses Future Plans

Target Groups Educational Leaders Educational Leaders National research Institutions National research Institutions Leaders within public sector Leaders within public sector Farmers and farm groups Farmers and farm groups Policy makers Policy makers Private sector Private sector Graduates Graduates

STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITIES TO OFFER DISTANCE EDUCATION Non-degree continuing education. Non-degree continuing education. Develop strategic partnerships. Develop strategic partnerships. Target group needs and marketing. Target group needs and marketing. Identify and adapt existing materials. Identify and adapt existing materials. Design quality courses to ensure learning. Design quality courses to ensure learning. Appropriate and most effective delivery mechanisms. Appropriate and most effective delivery mechanisms.

Thank you 2006

Contact information Juan Caliva: Juan Caliva: Jim French: Jim French: Glen Galloway: Glen Galloway: Gabriel Robles: Gabriel Robles: