GoOrganic – Achieve through training

International Training Course on Organic Agriculture (ITCOA)

The International Training Course on Organic Agriculture is a three weeks academic capacity development project that annually takes place in Uganda. The Training Course (formerly 'Summer School') started in July 2005 and is a direct response to the expressed demands for training and field exposure of university under-graduate students on organic agriculture. It is organised by the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, Makerere University, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Nairobi University, in cooperation with CIAT. The ITCOA 2010 takes place from 10th - 31st July 2010.

Learning goals

The course acquaints students with the main principles and practices of organic agriculture. The curriculum is geared towards innovation and change processes within organic agricultural systems. Students learn how to facilitate the transition to market-oriented organic agriculture and gain theoratical and practical innovation management knoweldge and skills.

How we work

Lectures workshops and excursions expose students to organic agriculture. Field-work in small teams enables participants to learn from, and with, farmers and to identify essential knowledge gaps that require further research.

The ITCOA follows a new didactical training approach within an intercultural learning environment. Emphasis is placed on the facilitation of action learning by participants. The training course closes with a public presentation in Kampala.

Who can attend

The training course admits under-graduate students from Makerere University, Sokoine University of Agriculture, University of Nairobi in their third year and students who are enrolled at BOKU (in their fourth or fifth year).