Course Details

The West African sub region is among the most food insecure regions in the world, with an estimated 31% of the population projected to be food insecure by 2024. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2020, Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) will account for 80% of the global burden of disease, causing seven out of every 10 deaths in developing countries. To avert this situation, an integrated approach that involves all stakeholders must be developed. A number of initiatives have already been implemented to examine how agriculture could be leveraged to become a more powerful tool to tackle the region’s persistent problems. This course will seek to build on the momentum created by these initiatives to prepare students and participants to develop global solutions fit for local contexts that bridge the gap between agricultural development and its largely unfulfilled health and nutritional benefits. 

Number of credits: 3

How You Will Learn and Work

This is a Global Classrooms Signature Course. This course will include a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning. The course will be taught online by the faculty from the University of Maryland (UMD) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana. Students from both institutions will examine contemporary nutrition and food systems problems and ways different disciplines address these "hot topics" of enduring significance. Students bring their own interests, knowledge and real-life experiences to the classroom and are active participants to enhance their own learnings. Students will apply their learning and gain insider knowledge about the topics and participate in team-based work to learn skills that are widely applicable.