Deadline: 15 August, 2018
The University of California, Davis has opened registration for Class IV of the African Plant Breeding AcademySM in collaboration with The African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), The Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA), Mars, Incorporated and the African Orphan Crops Consortium. The UC Davis African Plant Breeding Academy is a premium professional certificate program. To date, more than 80 scientists from 25 countries across the African continent have participated. This program is part of global professional training coordinated by UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy serving crop improvement professionals in the North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, making the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy the most recognized program of its kind. The program covers the fundamentals and the most recent developments in plant breeding theory and practice. UC Davis is often recognized as a top University in the world for teaching and research in agriculture.
The goal of the African Plant Breeding Academy is to train practicing African plant breeders in the most advanced theory and technologies for plant breeding in support of critical decisions for crop improvement. This includes the latest concepts in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, statistics and experimental design. It also includes accurate and precise trait evaluations, development of appropriate strategies to integrate genomics into breeding programs, and experience in identifying and utilizing DNA-based markers in breeding programs. The instructors are internationally recognized experts in plant breeding, genetics, and seed technology. The program is delivered in three 2-week sessions at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Participant Criteria and Selection
Classes are limited to 35 students. All participants must be based in Africa and must be actively managing a breeding program.
Ideal applicants will:
- Hold a Ph.D. or Masters degree with significant plant breeding experience
- Have taken courses in statistics, genetics and breeding
- Be currently managing a breeding program in any crop
- Have proficiency in English language
- Be available to attend all three sessions
This six-week program will be delivered in three 2-week classes with session one beginning in Nairobi, Kenya on November, 2018. The instructors are internationally recognized experts in plant breeding and seed technology. Scholarships are available for select students to attend this prestigious program.
Classes are limited to 35 students. All students will be from Africa.
COURSE DATES (students must attend all three sessions)
- Session 1: November 25 – December 8, 2018
- Session 2: May 12 – 25, 2019
- Session 3: December 1 – 13, 2019
Selected students will be offered a fully paid scholarship from the African Orphan Crops Consortium and NEPAD Agency that covers tuition, all materials, travel and accommodations.
Closing date for application is August 15, 2018.
For more information and to apply, click here.
