Practical training for Vietnamese trainers creates foundation of Fresh Academy

Dutch and Vietnamese knowledge institutes and companies work together on the design and establishment of the Fresh Academy, a practical knowledge and training center for the horticultural sector in Vietnam. From December 14 to 18, the first session was held of a 1.5-year Train-the-Trainer (ToT) program. In Da Lat, the center of the horticultural region of Vietnam par excellence, the project team worked with 28 trainees from across the country on practical knowledge and training skills in greenhouse cultivation. The focus this week was on fertilization, plant balance and crop protection.

The agricultural sector in Vietnam, including horticulture, develops strongly and offers new opportunities for Dutch businesses. One of the shortcomings in the sector development is a lack of practical and applicable knowledge. The Fresh Academy project, with a duration of over two years, contributes to the necessary knowledge and thereby created the foundation for a horticultural training center. The Train-the-Trainer course is an essential part of the project by teaching trainers how to train horticultural entrepreneurs, company employees and students in sustainable and technically advanced horticulture.

The Fresh Academy project builds on experiences gained by Fresh Studio in the past 10 years in the Vietnamese horticulture. HAS University of Applied Sciences (project leader) plus Wageningen UR / PPO, Lentiz Course & Consult, Demonursery Westland, Kenlog b.v. and Fresh Studio form a unique cluster that takes the challenge to shape the Fresh Academy. In addition, four (agriculture) universities in Vietnam are actively involved. In the long term the project partners work on a Fresh Academy, which is not limited to Da Lat but will also be active in the north (around Ha Noi) and the south of Vietnam, around Ho Chi Minh City. In the Mekong province Dong Thap the project partners Demonursery Westland and Kenlog already have an intensive cooperation with the local horticultural sector that specializes in flowering plants.

The ToT session in December caused enthusiasm among 28 eager students. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Lentiz Course & Consult and Wageningen UR / PPO gave content to the training. In March 2016, the next session is provided; then with the input of HAS University of Applied Sciences, Lentiz Course & Consult and Demonursery Westland.

For more information:
HAS Hogeschool
Jos Leeters
j.leeters@has.nl
info@bureauleeters.nl
+31 620 447 371
www.hashogeschool.nl
www.hasinternational.nl