Dr. Jana Janakiram

Dr. Jana Janakiram obtained a Ph.D in Agronomy from the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, an M.Sc from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India and a B.Sc from Madras University (Madras Christian College, Tambaram).

Dr. Jana Janakiram retired as Professor in the School of Rural Extension Studies, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and is currently serving as Project Director, Canadian – Sri Lankan project on Restoration and Livelihood Development of Tsunami affected communities in Sri Lanka. 

He is a scientist, educator and administrator and specializes in -

• Interpersonal Communication
• Intercultural Communication
• International Communication
• Project management
• Proposal writing and funding applications for global projects
• Participatory project design, planning, implementation and evaluation
• Team leadership and group work
• Administration and management of organizations.

In his career Dr. Jana has conducted several workshops and training programs for a number of professionals in Canada and other countries in the above disciplines. He has also worked with government agencies, non-government organizations and banks in different countries to encourage rural people to learn, start and sustain small scale businesses.    

Dr. Jana Janakiram has been involved with the School of Rural Extension Studies, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, since 1988 in the following roles -

• Associate Professor, Rural Extension Studies, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development
• Project Leader, Guelph - Mansoura/Egypt Distance Learning Project for Rural Development
• Project Leader, Guelph - Russia Distance Education/Training Project
• Project Leader, Guelph - Tamil Nadu/India Distance Learning Project for Seed Technology
• Project Leader, Guelph -Dschang/Cameroon Distance Education Project in Agriculture
• Program Consultant,  International Training Division

Additionally he has served in the following positions in Africa -

- National Coordinator, Cameroon Rice Program, Cameroon 

- Principal Scientist,  International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria 

- Acting Director,  Rice Research Station, Rokupr, Sierra Leone 

He has worked closely with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and has attracted funding for the following international projects - 

• 2006 - $1,753,351 for the Canadian – Sri Lankan project on Restoration and Livelihood Development of Tsunami affected communities in Sri Lanka  

• 1999 - $528,000 for a Farm Management/Distance Education project with Russian Peoples Friendship University, Moscow, Russia.  

• 1999 - $749,000 for a Distance Learning Project in Rural Development with Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt  

• 1995 - $749,000 for a Distance Learning Project in Seed Technology with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India.  

• 1994 - $1,400,000 for an Institutional Strengthening Project in Egypt  

• 1991 - $1,000,000 for a Diploma in Agriculture through Distance Education Project with the University of Dschang, Cameroon