Training Structure
Faculty of Economics, CIHEAM IAM Montpellier - Partner Institution
Overview
The DATEM program was developed in response to a request from the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture and the Faculty of Agronomy at the Lebanese University to train engineers capable of addressing new challenges: resource scarcity, climate change, and market instability in a tense regional context.
The training program develops skills that have been scarce in the area until now, including:
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modeling agricultural systems to design systems that are resilient to climate and socioeconomic uncertainties
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the integration of environmental issues intothe assessment of agricultural performance
A program that is unique in its field among the countries of the southern Mediterranean, it provides training inmulti-criteria analysis, regional agricultural development, andenvironmental assessment.
It prepares students for engineering positions within the Ministry of Agriculture, local governments, and regional extension agencies in connection with the restructuring of the regional agricultural sector.
Objectives
• Analyzing the Challenges Facing Lebanon’s Agricultural Areas
To document, present, and discuss the socioeconomic and climate challenges facing rural agricultural areas in Lebanon in order to assess the performance of agricultural systems and identify their limitations, risks, and vulnerabilities in an uncertain and evolving context.
• Master methods for analyzing and modeling agricultural systems
Acquire conceptual and numerical analytical frameworks to characterize the diversity of agricultural systems in arid regions, using quantitative, multi-criteria, and multi-scale tools: GIS, diagnostics, statistical analyses, bioeconomic modeling, and role-playing exercises.
These methods enable the design of innovative and sustainable agricultural systems in collaboration with local stakeholders.
• Understanding the role of agricultural policies and strategies
Analyzing the impact of past, present, and future public agricultural policies on innovation in agricultural systems, in relation to food and environmental priorities.
Admission
Admission Requirements
The required admission level is a minimum of 4 years of study following the Baccalauréat (equivalent to 240 ECTS) in the fields of economics, the humanities, or agronomy.
Professional experience is valued.
A selection committee composed of faculty members from CIHEAM Montpellier reviews the applications and ranks them based on their quality (grades earned, academic background, skills acquired, etc.).
Applicants who meet the required academic criteria are invited to selection interviews, which are conducted in person or remotely, depending on the master’s program chosen and the applicant’s country of origin.
Candidates selected after interviews are admitted to the master's program based on the number of available spots. Admission letters are sent out in June.
In the event of a withdrawal, new candidates may be invited from a waiting list.