STUDENTS WORK, FARM GET THUMBS UP FROM INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
Moneague, St Ann; Spt 25, 2024
Officials in a delegation led by the Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica expressed satisfaction with programmes funded by an agency of Canada, following a visit to The Moneague College, St Ann, Tuesday.
High Commissioner Mark Berman, officers of the High Commission and representatives of universities supporting a Canada-sponsored programme visited the college on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The aim was to highlight the Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) programme sponsored by the Government of Canada.
(Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman, left, and Principal Howard Isaacs)
Following a tour of the college’s farm and its food processing lab, High Commissioner Berman told the North Coast Times he was “very impressed” by what he saw and by the students participating in the SAGE-supported agro-processing.
(Pat Bidart, Senior Technical Advisor of SAGE.giving an outline of the programme)
LIFE CHANGING
In welcoming the Canadians, as well as two representatives of Kenya’s TVET Council, Howard Isaacs Principal of The Moneague College said it had been visionary of the Canadian Government to link with institutions in the Caribbean on the agriculture-supported projects. SAGE also has programmes at Ebony Park in Jamaica and in five other Caribbean countries. He said Niagara College and College of North Atlantic, which were also represented at the event, had played an important part in the programme at The Moneague College.
(Amoy Trowers, a student in the programme showing off some of the products and processes in the lab)
Mr Isaacs said SAGE had helped to change the lives of students who participated.
Under the programme, The Moneague College has been able to offer, through its Faculty of Science and Technology, an Associate Degree Programme in Climate Smart Agro Processing.
(Some of the participants in the assessment of SAGE, at the Moneague College Tuesday, Sept. 24)
The SAGE support to the institution also impacts other courses. Also, SAGE has enabled several students and faculty members to benefit from study tours to Canada.
Tuesday’s event saw a session in the Aubrey Phillips Lecture Theatre with several presentations. These included an explanation and description of the programme by Pat Bidart, Senior Technical Advisor of SAGE.
(Desmond Campbell Project Lead explaining features of the programme. With him is Dr Kadijah Williams, Research Officer)
Desmond Campbell who is the Project Lead at The Moneague College also gave a detailed outline of how the project works at the college and how it has been pushing innovation in agricultural practices at the college’s farm and in lectures.
Professor of Entrepreneurship at Niagara College Monique Finley in an interview with the North Coast Times, following the tour of the farm, said she was impressed with the college’s programme of agro-processing and particularly how the various elements were linked to food security.
Senior faculty at The Moneague College also took part in the events Tuesday morning.
See also Video of the tour and responses on the North Coast Times YouTube Channel.
Here is where it all came together, in this demonstration by Amoy Trowers assisted by Petagaye Baker
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