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SEARCA, DA-BAR to kick off IKM Mentorship Program

By Marie Antoinette F. Bangabang FANSSEA News

searca da bar to kick off ikm mentorship program new

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), as commissioned by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), will conduct the Orientation and 1st Face-to-Face Session of the Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) Mentorship Program: Communicating Agriculture and Fisheries Research for Inclusive and Sustainable Development (CAFRISD) on 12-15 September 2017.

A total of 18 participants composed of two DA-BAR representatives and 16 regional officers from DA Regional Field Units are expected to attend the training to be held at SEARCA. The IKM Mentorship Program is designed to have two batches of trainees for 18 months.

Using the blended learning approach, the IKM Mentorship Program will have a series of face-to-face and online sessions within the project's duration.

The Orientation and 1st Face-to-Face Session will enable participants to learn more about the IKM Mentorship Program; comprehend the course introduction, guidelines, and overview of the modules; identify the pool of mentors; comprehend the navigation of the online learning platform --- Canvas LMS; and understand science communication in the context of inclusive growth and sustainable development in agriculture research.

Since the IKM Mentorship Program will be conducting online sessions, an online learning platform (Canvas LMS) is necessary in the program's implementation. A session regarding the navigation of the Canvas LMS is also included.

Other than the overview and implementation mechanics of the IKM Mentorship Program, key personnel from DA were also invited to talk about Community-based Participatory Action Researches, Technical Commercialization, and Philippine Rural Development Projects in relation to inclusive growth and sustainable development. Ms. Amavel Velasco, Senior Agriculturist under the Program Monitoring and Evaluation, and Mr. Glenn Dimayuga, Project Development Officer under the Technical Commercialization Division, both from DA-BAR, plus a speaker from the National Project Coordination Office of DA will serve as resource persons.

Professors from the University of the Philippines Los Baños-College of Development Communication (UPLB-CDC) will serve as mentors and facilitators. Professor Elaine DC. Llarena, Project Leader, will serve as the overall facilitator.

Other members of the project team include Professor Pamela Joyce M. Eleazar, Mentor on Online and Publications Writing and Production; Professor Edmund G. Centeno, Mentor on Photography and Audio-visual Writing and Production; and University Extension Specialist Rikki Lee B. Mendiola, Online Learning Expert. Ms. Marie Antoinette F. Bangabang and Ms. Amy A. Antonio, both Project Assistants at SEARCA's Project Development and Technical Services, will provide technical and administrative support during the training.