"ICBA"And the e-learning academy in"FAO" They promote digital education
Dubai, February 26 / WAM / The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the E-Learning Academy of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have enhanced the scope of accredited, multilingual digital education in the fields of agriculture, food systems and natural resource management, through joint cooperation that included making courses available in Arabic and integrating approved training content within ICBA’s digital platform.
Cooperation between the two sides began in August 2020 with the aim of expanding the scope of approved digital learning. In 2022, ICBA launched its e-learning portal, benefiting about 1,200 learners from 70 countries across 12 specialized topics, including four courses in the Arabic language.
All ICBA courses are accredited by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Accreditation Service in the United Kingdom, ensuring competency-based training content consistent with international standards.
Within the framework of cooperation, ICBA made two FAO e-Learning Academy courses available in Arabic, while 49 FAO-accredited courses were integrated into the ICBA platform, including 43 in English and 6 in Arabic, expanding professionals in the region’s benefit from specialized scientific content.
Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi, Director General of ICBA, said that e-learning represents a strategic pillar in accelerating the shift towards more sustainable agriculture, stressing that supporting the development of courses in the Arabic language reflects the importance of making knowledge available in multiple languages to serve stakeholders in the Middle East and North Africa region efficiently and effectively.
She added that integrating FAO’s multilingual courses into ICBA’s digital platform and integrating them into programs such as the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) programme, contributes to strengthening institutional capacities and expanding equitable learning opportunities for women, men, professionals and farmers in dry and climate-change-affected environments.
For her part, Cristina Petracchi, Head of the FAO e-Learning Academy, said that the Academy is committed to providing high-quality, accredited, multilingual learning opportunities as a global public good.
She pointed out that cooperation with ICBA contributes to expanding regional reach and enhancing the transfer of competencies necessary to support food security, sustainable management of natural resources, and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, stressing that strategic partnerships are an essential element in strengthening institutional capabilities and ensuring the translation of knowledge into practical impact.
The cooperation includes ICBA’s contribution to the preparation of the Arabic version of the FAO e-Learning Academy guide on e-learning methodologies and good practices, in support of the adoption of advanced digital standards in the field of learning in the Arab region.
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