CIIFAD and Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia have collaborated on developing a joint program for a Masters of Professional Studies degree in International Agriculture and Rural Development with a specialization in Integrated Watershed Management. The degree is conferred by Cornell University (CU), with all coursework and examinations undertaken at Bahir Dar University (BDU), Ethiopia.

The program, now in its second year, is offered entirely in Ethiopia at Bahir Dar University, but students receive degrees from Cornell. Cornell faculty travel to Ethiopia to offer courses in 3-week blocks with faculty from BDU. Cornell and BDU faculty jointly supervise students' research/development projects. The interdisciplinary program includes courses in engineering, agriculture, management and the social sciences to provide students with the skills needed to manage watersheds. Each student must complete 24 credits of course work and a research or development practicum (6 credits) to receive the MPS degree. Bahir Dar's location in a largely agricultural area on the shores of Lake Tana (the source of the Blue Nile) make it an ideal site for research and development projects on watershed management.

For more information contact:

• Tammo Steenhuis, Professor of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University
• Alice Pell, Vice Provost for International Relations and Professor of Animal Science at Cornell University