Training Programs, Workshops and Other events Conducted by AEU in 2017

TRAINING PROGRAMS: In 2017, diverse training initiatives included a confectionary processing program for Dehiattakandiya and Wilgamuwa communities with the Departments of Food Science & Technology and Animal Science (17 Mar), and multiple Animal, Food, and Soil Science practicals for G.C.E. A/L students (17 Mar, 18-19 May, 30 Jun). Specialized courses featured a 15-hour effective teaching program for ELTU staff (20 Apr-1 Jun), a ten-day Basic Agriculture course for Plantation Management students (28 Aug-9 Sep), two five-day residential Tissue Culture and Micropropagation courses for floriculture growers with the Crop Science Department (4-8 Sep, Oct), and a five-day pest control training for C&A staff with Agricultural Biology (Aug-Oct). Internationally, study

abroad programs hosted students from Michigan State University on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture (12 May-5 Jun) and Saga University on World Heritage impacts (22-28 Sep).

WORKSHOPS: Professional workshops featured a two-day Statistics for Environmental Research session for Central Environmental Authority researchers (22-23 Mar) and a two-day Invasive Alien Species program co-organized with the Plant Protection Service and Fisheries Society in Polgolla (3-4 Sep). Academic writing was advanced through a one-day impactful research article workshop for 50 Export Agriculture officers alongside the PGIA Crop Science Board (14 Nov), and a pre-conference scientific abstracting workshop at the 20th Annual PGIA Congress (16 Nov).

OTHER EVENTS: Major events included co-organizing the 1st ISHS Conference in Sri Lanka focusing on postharvest management with ISHS Belgium (6-8 Apr) and hosting the closing session of the Agricultural Biotechnology capacity-building program alongside AgBC and Michigan State University for Department of Agriculture officers (14 Jun). Additional highlights encompassed a Fair Trade knowledge-sharing session for Hong Kong Baptist University (13 Jun), a study abroad internship for nine Sultan Qaboos University students (10 Jul-4 Aug), and the conduction of the 5th and inauguration of the 6th Certificate Course on Pest Control for the Registrar of Pesticides.