Presentation by Sean Gaule

1
Presentation by Sean Gaule

• President of CEDIA

2
Overview

• Two Parts to Presentation
• CEDIA- Background and current developments.
• The future for agronomists - Education and
  Training requirements.

3
CEDIA

• European Confederation of Agronomist Associations
• (Confederation Europeenne des Associations
  DIngenieurs Agronomes)
• Founded in 1987 in Brussels as European committee
  of Agronomists
• In Copenhagen in 1996 renamed to Cedia
• A non profit making Association
• Has a written constitution and statutes
• Registered in Belgium

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Objectives

• To support the professional interests of its
  members.
• To promote cooperation among member associations.
  
• To promote European integration.
• To promote professional recognition and mobility.
• To represent member Associations at EU and
  International Fora.
• To promote the study and development of
  agriculture and related sciences.
• To promote sustainable food security.

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Membership

• Associations from eleven countries
• Cyprus
• Denmark (Nordic countries)
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland/ N.Ireland
• Italy
• Portugal
• Spain
• Switzerland

• Individual members represented 100,000 approx
• Funding of Cedia Fees related to Member
  Association numbers
• Board Representatives of member associations

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Activities

• Meetings and seminars
• Representational e.g. Agricultural Policy Issues
• Career /Job Services/ mobility of members
• Website (www.cedia.eu)
• Newsletter
• CPD continuous professional development
• Revision of Association Strategy and Business
  plan
• Membership enlargement (Central and Eastern
  European Countries )

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The future for Agronomists

•     A time of profound change in Agriculture
  Issues such as
• International food supplies
• World Population growth
• Climate change
• Water Resources - supplies and management
• Energy - alternative sustainable fuels
• Food v Fuel
• World trade issues
• CAP Policy
• Rural Development

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Policy Responses

• European Community and National Policies have
  recognised
• The importance of Agriculture and natural
  resources in providing solutions to the above key
  issues.
• The need for the development of sustainable
  knowledge based economies in underpinning future
  prosperity in an increasing competitive global
  economy.
• Universities as key drivers in the knowledge
  economy.
• World class educational standards require
  adequate funding and appropriate performance
  evaluation systems. Cedia are conscious of the
  funding difficulties which universities are
  facing in some countries.

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Challenges and Opportunities for the Agronomist

• Extended and improved application of science and
  education to the Agriculture and Food Sectors
• Need to address issues, which are both multi and
  intra disciplinary
• The exploitation of Natural bioscience
  technologies re food, feed, fibre and fuel
• Improved Productivity Crop and Animal
  Production
• Improved soil and water management
• Improved human nutrition and food safety
• Linkage of basic research findings to practical
  applications
• Requirement Scientific and Professional
  Leadership

10
The Professional Agronomist - Training and
Educational needs

• Careers are wide and varied
• Servicing Agriculture in Public and Private
  sectors (5050 approx)
• Policy, Research, Education, Advisory,
  Management, Consultancy etc
• Knowledge and skill requirements are diverse and
  specific.
• Cedia supports the Bologna process
• Cedia compliments the Universities for their
  capacity to adapt to change, and for their
  excellence in maintaining, and advancing the
  training and knowledge of agronomy graduates in
  ensuring that the demands placed on the
  profession can continue to be met.
• Excellent employment opportunities for graduates

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General Comments

• Education and training provided is keeping
  abreast with professional requirements
  Continued focus on syllabus and
  deliverence/teaching methods essential.
• The continued need for a good general practioner
  as well as the need for specialists - maintaining
  the broad overview while understanding the
  concepts of specialisation. (e.g. medicine -
  general practioner and specialist consultant)
• Recognition and mobility of university
  qualifications not generally an issue Language
  capability seems a bigger problem ( ref member
  association websites)
• Career development professional skills and
  scientific knowledge needed but also a
  requirement for competences in leadership/innovati
  on, communication, decision making, personal
  effectiveness,IT, and other management skills.

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General Comments Ctd.

• CPD A necessity for all professionals
  cooperation at European level. ?
• Improved opportunities for study abroad during
  under graduate and post graduate training should
  be further promoted and facilitated.
• The gaining of international experience during
  and immediately post qualification in the agri
  food sectors should also be encouraged and
  facilitated.
• Success in the global economy requires
  international knowledge and inter-cultural
  communication skills.
• Cedia through its member associations and
  individual members would be pleased to cooperate
  with your association in any of these or other
  initiatives.