Souphanouvong University led a successful dissemination event for local stakeholders as part of the Capacity Building in Higher Education project "Intelligent Geotechnologies for Resilient Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change" (INTEGRAL), which is co-funded by the European Union.
The event was held on May 30, 2024, at the District Agriculture and Forestry Office in Pakxeng District, Luangprabang, Lao PDR. The objectives were:
- To introduce the INTEGRAL project framework and the new courses developed by the project to local stakeholders.
- To discuss the capacity building needed by local stakeholders and further collaboration.
Poster presentation by Dr. Nouphone Manivanh
The participants were:
- Academics related to each course from Souphanouvong University.
- Technical staff of the Agriculture and Forestry Office, Pakxeng District.
- Model farming families interested in the project.
The meeting started with slideshow presentations, including presentations of the four courses, as well as a poster presentation:
- Presentation of course 1: Climate-resilient agriculture, food security and adaptation - Role of intelligent geotechnologies
- Presentation of course 2: Geospatial data modelling and visualization for climate-resilient agriculture
- Presentation of course 3: Earth observation and monitoring of the agricultural landscape
- Presentation of course 4: Intelligent Spatial Data Infrastructures for resilient agriculture and adaptation
- Poster presentation and discussion.
During the course presentations, participants were able to ask questions and provide recommendations.
The courses were of great interest to the participants, especially those from the Agriculture and Forestry Office, as they could apply the knowledge in their work. Local authorities requested short-term training rather than academic study. There were also discussions about future demand for human resources, with participants concluding that it is crucial for students in the field of agriculture to have a background in the four courses.
Future activities
The participants gained an understanding of how intelligent geotechnologies can be used for resilient agricultural adaptation to climate change in Lao PDR. After the curriculum is fully developed and incorporated into university teaching, the courses will be offered to this target group. They can then apply the knowledge in their locations to improve agricultural production, with support from the Agriculture and Forestry Office.