Agriculture and Food Department assistant director general Simon Johnson presented the students with their certificates at a graduation celebration in Perth recently.

The course was coordinated by the Department's Agwest International in partnership with Curtin University of Technology and TAFE Centres in WA.

It was funded by the National Economic Development Board in the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Mr Johnson said the department had a long standing relationship with Libya and had been assisting with technical and professional agricultural advice for more than 35 years.

"Agricultural assistance to Libya over the past few years has helped to increase opportunities for Western Australian exports of goods and services," Mr Johnson said.

"This contract to provide training for Libya's young agricultural scientists is another example of our ongoing cooperation."

Mr Johnson said the customised course comprised basic English training in Libya for three months followed by a further six months of English studies related to agriculture, and training in information technology in WA.

The English studies were conducted at Curtin University and work placements were offered in Perth and regional WA in accordance with areas of student specialisation.

The course was offered to 2008 graduates from agriculture science campuses in Libya - Al Fateh University and Omar Mukhtar University.

"The graduates require English as a Second Language (ESL) training to help them utilise information from international sources, develop international networks and to effectively apply computer technology," Mr Johnson said.

"The students arrived with very limited English language skills and have worked hard to develop their English and agricultural knowledge.

"This course was run as a pilot project this year, and we anticipate more students to undertake this course in the future."