​The Ministry of Education (MoE) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) aimed on cooperation and coordination to develop the curriculum of the Agricultural Science Academy (ASA). The MoU enhances cooperation between the two parties and supports strategies directed to supports the UAE's future strategies to graduate qualified students capable of keeping pace with the development of the agricultural sector in the UAE.

In this regard, H.E. Engineer Abdul Rahman Mohamed Al Hammadi, Undersecretary of MoE, said: "The MoU and Cooperation with ADAFSA reflects our keenness on developing programs and curriculum that the Academy of Agricultural Sciences that focus, especially in the field of agricultural sustainability covering both plant and animal. These efforts are intended to provide the students with a high level of knowledge and academic essences in field of agriculture that enable them to join specialized agricultural program at higher education institutions inside or outside the UAE."

His Excellency stressed that cooperation with ADAFSA presents a great opportunity to develop valuable and effective knowledge content in the curriculum, through employment of competencies and expertise possesses by the government entity that regulates and manage the agricultural sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and takes measures achieve sustainable agricultural sector. At the same time, enhances the Ministry's mission to build and manage an innovative, knowledge-based, globally competitive educational system that embraces all age groups and meet future market demands.

Through ASA academy, MoE seeks to accomplish UAE Government aspirations and plans and achieve future agenda by providing citizen cadres capable of managing the agricultural sector, present the foundations of its leadership and progress as one of the most vital sectors in which interest is increasing at the local and global levels while being closely related to the national economy and its prosperity and its reflection on the rest of the other vital sectors., Al Hammadi clarified. Form his side, H.E. Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA, said: "In cooperation and coordination with our strategic partner, ADAFSA is keen on leveraging its achievements for the interest of all segments of the community, enhance our contribution to knowledge transfer, empower national students and enable them to cope with the agricultural renaissance and progress taking place in Abu Dhabi and the UAE."

Furthermore, H E pointed out that, ADAFSA in alliance with MoE, will ADAFSA will increase awareness among students of these academies of the importance of the national agricultural sector and its contribution to establishing the food security system. Areas of cooperation will include the developing scientific research skills for ASA students, and preparing them to join appropriate jobs in agricultural institutions within the government or private sectors, strengthen their participation to UAE sustainable agricultural development by enhancing their innovation culture and ability to provide effective solutions that address climate challenges facing the agricultural sector, Al Amri concluded.

The MoU aims to ensure coordinate between the two parties to make optimal use of the available resources and expertise in developing of the curriculum of ASA, provide the students for advanced levels of academic knowledge of the fundamentals and agricultural scientific experiences, spreading the spirit of creative thinking among students. The MoU provides for coordination between the two parties to conduct practical and field training for students in ADAFSA's laboratories, research stations, and relevant departments, in addition, it offers awareness campaigns in ASA to increase students' awareness of new agriculture science developments, exchange experiences, information, and data between the two parties to achieve their shared goals.

ADAFSA and MoE began their cooperation in preparing ASA's curriculum two years ago. This cooperation has resulted in completing curricula for both ninth and tenth grades, organizing several exploratory visits for students to ADAFSA's research stations to learn about the latest technologies, practices and agricultural research conducted in the field of Agricultural sustainability, livestock development and beekeeping sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

ADAFSA in cooperation with MoE, plan to enhance and expand ASA's curriculum, to build a strong foundation of educational system that enables students to gain high level knowledge of agricultural sciences and prepare ASA students to pursue the agricultural-related in higher education institutions that enable them in contributing contribute innovative and efficient solutions to address climate challenges facing the agricultural sector.

The Ministry of Education announced earlier this year the creation of 5 specialized academies for citizen students, including the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, which aims to graduate students capable of joining the professional work in the agricultural sector in the UAE and providing effective solutions regarding the agricultural challenges by linking the curricula to the agricultural reality in the country.