Hello dear friends of agricultural field! The following information might be very interesting for you and for those who are passionate about agriculture, food industry and international! I am writing on behalf of the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS Canada), a non-profit international organization which Canadian office is located in our dynamic faculty (FSAA Faculty of Agriculture and Food sciences) at Laval University since over two years. First, if you are not already aware, the IAAS is one of the largest student organizations in agriculture in the world. Its mission is to promote the exchange of experience, knowledge and ideas, to improve the mutual understanding between students in the field of agricultural and related sciences all over the world. To do this, the IAAS organizes a world congress and a lot of other activities at local and regional levels throughout the years. IAAS Canada was mandated to organize the next DMA (Directors Meeting of the Americas) to be held in Quebec City at Laval University from 13 to 21 January 2012. If you are saying: «The DMA, what's that?» don’t worry, it's very simple! DMA is a congress about food industry especially for the Americas. There will be lectures on agriculture and social responsibility, training for the development of key skills (motivation, leadership, teamwork...), farms visits and all that in an international atmosphere who promises to be epic! You want to participate or just come and see to what look like those happy IAAS events? Good! As we seek to bring together as many students from partner universities in agriculture beyond the five existing country members to attend the DMA, you are welcome! So, if you are looking to live a strong event, which develops your ability to cross-cultural relationship, which can provide training relevant to your field of study having as background fun and sharing, the DMA is for you! For more details, see the document attached. And please do not hesitate to contact us! You can share this document and the other attached to people you know who may be interested. The IAAS deserves to be known by students who have the same passions as we do! Hope to meet in January 2012! Canada IAAS Committee
IAAS DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AMERICAS QUEBEC, CANADA, 2011-2012
Summary What is IAAS? .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Aims ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Activities ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Structure ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Countries Members ............................................................................................................................... 4 IAAS Canada Historic .............................................................................................................................. 5 Next IAAS Events ................................................................................................................................ 5 DMA Presentation..................................................................................................................................... 6 Objectives .............................................................................................................................................. 6 What?..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Preliminary schedule ............................................................................................................................. 8 Who? ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Where?................................................................................................................................................... 9 When? .................................................................................................................................................... 9 How much?............................................................................................................................................ 9
2
What is IAAS? Founded in 1957 in Tunis by 8 countries, the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS) is at the moment one of the world's biggest student organizations and one of the leading agricultural student associations. IAAS gathers students studying, majoring or researching in agriculture and related areas like environmental sciences, forestry, food sciences, landscape architecture etc. Their committees are now spread in universities in over 40 countries worldwide. IAAS is a place where agricultural students from all over the world meet each other, experience new mentalities and cultures, travel and see new places and learn about all aspects of agriculture together with their future colleagues. Aims The aims of IAAS are to promote the exchange of knowledge, information and ideas among students, and to improve the mutual understanding between countries and cultures. To do this, we organize activities like seminars, working camps, international meetings, exchange weeks, an international exchange program, small-scale development projects etc. Activities World Congress: It consists of a General Assembly and seminar, it is the yearly meeting of the governing body of IAAS. This meeting attracts our members from all over the world, and is usually organized in July-August and lasts for three weeks. EDM (European Directors Meetings), DMA (Directors Meetings of the America), ADM (African Directors Meetings): IAAS member countries are divided into different regions. Within these regions meetings with different educational topics are held every year. Director's Meetings usually last longer and deal with important issues, Regional Meetings are more informal gatherings. Exchange week: is an excellent way for an IAAS committee to learn more about another country. The method is simple: two or more countries express their interest towards having an exchange week - the rest is up to the countries: a theme is chosen, and usually the participants only pay travel costs and sometimes a small participation fee.
3
Seminars and conferences: held by local committees around the world to facilitate learning on a certain educational topic. You can even earn credits by attending some of our high-quality seminars. Exchange program: It has for years been the backbone of IAAS: it enables students to get practical experience working as an intern in a farm, organization or a company around the world. It broadens your horizons and fulfill your compulsory internship abroad - or you can gain priceless experience by learning more about life sciences! Structure
Countries Members In America, five countries are member of IAAS : Mexico, Guatemala, United States and two new countries : Canada and Chile.
4
IAAS Canada Historic In 2009, IAAS Canada has been created by AGIR International in Agriculture and Food Faculty of Laval University in Quebec City. During the General Assembly in the World Congress of Mexico in 2009 the association was accepted as a candidate member. It means that we had two years to demonstrate our implication in IAAS before to apply as a complete member. Then, the committee started to build up: start the exchange program, design a IAAS Canada logo, publicize the international association within the faculty and find financial partners. The committee sent his first Canadian representative, FrĂŠdĂŠric Verville, to the World Congress 2010 in Indonesia. In summer 2011, four Spanish students had participated to the exchange program in Quebec. Two Canadian delegates, Vicky Rioux and Ketsia Johns attempted the World Congress 2011 in Macedonia. They presented the application of Canada as a complete committee and it has been accepted during the General Assembly. Canada has also been chosen to be the next host for the Directors Meetings of the America (DMA) 2011-2012. Next IAAS Events: European Directors Meeting (EDM) in Slovenia : December 27 to January 3 2011-2012; Exchange Coordinator Meetings in May 2012 in Portugal; World Congress 2012 in Nigeria World Congress 2013 in Chili
5
DMA Presentation The DMA is similar to a small World Congress specialize for the America. Europe is really active in IAAS while America is still in emergence. Objectives Discover Agriculture and Culture of Quebec Discuss about Social Responsibility (DMA theme) Improve IAAS America structure Develop better strategy and communication between the countries in America Develop interpersonal and professional competences Recruit new IAAS members (new countries and new Canadian local committees) What? Conferences: agriculture in Quebec, Social Responsibility: Food Sovereignty, Food Security, Fair Trade, Biodiversity, Agroforestry, Sustainable Agriculture, etc. Trainings: They are non-formal learning experiences. Training is not a class or lecture; they are interactive and not only theoretical. The topics can be very universal: leadership, communication, understanding motivation, project management, etc. Trainings will enable you to grow as an individual, as a team and organization. Trainings make us experience and improve our skills and understanding. Agricultural visits: Ice Wine Production, Innovative Dairy Production, Bisons, Wapitis, Hydroponic Greenhouses, Research Centers, Sugar Shack, Sleigh dogs, etc. Workshops: Small groups discussing about particular aspects of IAAS: exchange program, recruitment, fundraising, communication, how to build up a committee, etc. Mid-term reports presentation: Each country presents their activities and objectives. Also, the executive committee presents the mid-term report.
6
Trade fair: Each participants share typical drink and food from their country. Development fund: Each participant brings objects to sell in an auction. The money raise serves to help underprivileged students to attend IAAS events. University fair: Each country has the opportunity to make a stand to present promotional information from their university.
7
Who? Members from IAAS committee in America (Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala and Chile) All students from Laval University (host of the event) Non-members in Canada from the food processing industry field All IAAS World members Quebec City population 5 people maximum per local committee Where? The DMA will be in the Province of Quebec. The activities will take place mainly in Laval University, in Quebec City. We will also visit Montreal for two days. When? From 13 to 21 January 2012 inclusively Participants are free to arrive and leave when they want even though it is easier if they arrive in Quebec City the 13th in the morning.
How much? Cost
including
activities,
A Country: 150 $ Can. B Country: 200$ Can. C Country: 250$ Can. D Country: 300$ Can.
transport
during
the
DMA,
accommodation
and
food:
Apply now! Application deadline: November 15th. 5 people per local committee are allowed to participate to the DMA. If there are more people, they will be placed on a waiting list. The places are limited so fill your application form as soon as possible! Trip information: It is usually cheaper to land in Montreal (Pierre Eliott Trudeau Airport) and then take a bus to Quebec. For more information: Coordinators Ketsia Johns : ketsiajohns@gmail.com, Vicky Rioux : vickyrioux@gmail.com IAAS Website: http://www.iaasworld.org/ Facebook Group : DMA - Canada 2011-2012 Application form : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGtPcGV3VzZfMVBHdGhyMXhFV0xKOHc6MQ
10
Preliminary schedule