TANTANGAN, South Cotabato—To further enhance the e-Learning component of the e-Extension Program for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) has forged a partnership with the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) for the delivery of the Smart Course on Halal-compliant Goat Farming. 

The course was developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER), which is based and operated by the SKSU, and funded by Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

To seal the partnership, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by officials from the ATI and SKSU during the course’s soft launch at the ATI office in Region XII. Under the partnership, the ATI will administer the course through its e-Learning portal and provide technical support to the enrollees. Meanwhile, the SKSU shall ensure that the contents of the course are up-to-date using the appropriate authoring software.  

ATI Information Services Division chief Antonieta Arceo took part in the event via Zoom and shared the e-Learning program’s accomplishments through the years and the Institute’s partnership history with DOST-PCAARRD. She also commended the efforts of the ATI in region XII for their dynamic partnerships with state universities and colleges (SUCs) for the promotion of e-Learning, which has gained them a high number of enrollees and graduates. 

Meanwhile, ATI Director Alfredo Aton personally graced the event and gave his message of support. 

“The ATI will leverage the partnerships with the SUCs to deliver its programs. This is just the beginning for the SUCs here in Mindanao to develop an online course to be included in our e-Learning program,” he said.

Meanwhile, both SKSU president Rolando Hechanova and NICER program leader Ruby Hechanova assured their full support for the endeavor. Aside from SKSU, officials from the South Cotabato State College and the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology also guaranteed that they will encourage their students to enroll in the e-Learning courses for continued learning experience even during this time of a pandemic. 

The soft launch and MOA signing events were spearheaded by ATI Region XII, led by center director Abdul Daya-an. It was held on February 26, 2021 in Tantangan, South Cotabato and was also streamed live via the ATI Region XII Facebook page.