Strategy and programme development for international irrigation training

The Centre for International Irrigation Training and Research has been established to provide a focus in Australia for training and research in irrigation engineering management, and to develop management training programmes, in the first instance for responsible managers of regional irrigation supply and distribution networks. The core programme is a six month course in irrigation engineering management that has been developed with a careful balance of academic coursework and “on-the-job” training, strongly oriented towards practical management. The syllabus material has been drawn largely from the Australian experience, which provides a basis for mutual exchange and interaction between the course participants. The academic content will follow three general themes which are Institutional Frameworks (20%), Physical and Environmental Framework (40%) and System Operation, Management and Maintenance (40%). Field training will be undertaken in regional irrigation centres in four states of Australia.