CABI is now offering three Certificates of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Integrated Crop Mangement in collaboration with the University of Neuchâtel.
Students taking these courses will develop the skills and knowledge of crop management principles and how to put them into practice.
What is Integrated Crop Management (ICM)?
Integrated Crop Management or ICM is a crop production system that promotes crop health while minimizing the impact on the environment. It seeks long-term sustainability and focuses on increasing productivity without compromising natural resources.
ICM considers many aspects of agricultural production, such as:
- pest management
- soil care
- seed selection
- crop nutrition
- water management
- and more.
About the CAS in ICM
Our Certificates of Advanced Studies are higher education programmes, fully taught online and in English, making them accessible globally. Moreover, they are aimed at practitioners and students that want to deepen their knowledge and expertise in crop management.
CABI and the University of Neuchâtel, alongside Swiss partner institutions, collaborated to develop these certificates, ensuring high-quality education to participants.
What courses do we offer?
We offer three different certificates, each of which can be taken individually and in any order. Additionally, students that finish all three certificates can obtain a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS).
For more information on the courses included in each Certificate, please consult the Programmes page on the University of Neuchâtel website.
The three CAS programmes are:
1: ICM – Sustainable Production Practices
- Topic 1: Soil Management
- Topic 2: Crop Nutrition
- Topic 3: Seed/Planting Material
- Topic 4: Integrated Pest Management
- Topic 5: Water Management
- Topic 6: Cropping Strategies
2: ICM – Understanding context and support strategies to make ICM work
- Topic 1: Policy Considerations
- Topic 2: Agricultural System Implementation
- Topic 3: Agricultural and Rural Economics
- Topic 4: Gender Considerations
- Topic 5: Agricultural Extension
- Topic 6: Experimental Design & Statistical Methods
- Topic 7: Climate Change
3: ICM – Biological Control and Ecosystem Services
- Topic 1: Prevention of Pest Problems
- Topic 2: Managing Landscapes
- Topic 3: Green Direct Control
- Topic 4: Classical Biological Control
Each CAS is independent and can be taken individually.
Additional learning
DAS in Integrated Crop Management
Candidates who have successfully finished all three CAS-ICM courses can obtain a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) upon completion of an additional technical report. The DAS, consisting of the three CAS courses and the technical report, then counts for 36 ECTS (18 American credits).
- For the technical report, students will, in principle, prepare written ICM guidelines for a specific crop in a particular country. These guidelines should be preceded by an introduction in the form of a detailed literature review on the topic. The precise report topic and possible alternative content will be decided during the course period, in consultation with the supervisors.
How long do the courses run for?
The duration of each CAS programme is about 9 months (September to June of the following year). Each programme counts for 10 to 12 credits in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and corresponds to about 10 hours of study time per week.
Fees
- CAS ICM: 3,950 CHF (approx. 4,515 USD) per course
- DAS ICM (3 CAS + technical report): 2,000 CHF (approx. 2,285 USD)
Why enroll in the programmes?
Our courses are led by experts in Incorporated Crop Management from both CABI and the University of Neuchâtel, but also feature specialists from around the world.
With these certifications, you can equip yourself with skills to disseminate impactful and practical ICM solutions to various stakeholders in your country, including farmers and policymakers. You will get a modern approach to agriculture, considering ecology, soil health, crop and land management and socioeconomics.
Finally, the e-learning system is flexible, allowing you to adapt your studies to your schedule, yet it maintains regular live sessions and provides personalized support from the course tutors.
For more information
Course information and FAQs: CABI.org CAS ICM course information and FAQs
Full programme details: The University of Neuchâtel CAS/DAS ICM
How to apply
Applications are currently open, and you can register directly on the University of Neuchâtel website until June 2nd 2024.
Contact us: Valérie Parrat v.parrat@cabi.org
If you are interested in e-learning and want to know more about Crop and Pest Management, check out our Resources to learn about available courses.
