Encouraging the creation of graduate programmes (MSc) on 
    plant genetic resources

Efforts are urgently needed to increase the technical profile of plant genetic resources professionals in the region. Graduate level education is difficult to access because of cost, language barriers and limited opportunities to study abroad. IPGRI tries to improve this situation by promoting and supporting graduate courses and university programmes on plant genetic resources, in partnership with recognized higher education institutions.

For example, IPGRI has supported for several years the graduate courses offered by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias in Chile and by the University of San Carlos in Guatemala. It was also instrumental in the creation of a MSc programme at the Universidad Nacional in Palmira, Colombia, by contributing a curriculum and training materials and now by contributing with lectures and supporting their library. IPGRI has also supported a similar initiative in Mesoamerica at the Colegio de Postgraduados in Chapingo, Mexico.