Developing Extension Pre-Service Training Programs for Sub-Saharan Countries

Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services

Developing Extension Pre-Service Training Programs for

Sub-Saharan Countries

R. Kirby BarrickUniversity of Florida

Qureish NoordinAGRA, Kenya

Joe A. Kwarteng, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Agricultural Extension and Food Security Conference Center for African Studies

Columbus, OhioOctober 20-21, 2014

Need

• Extension agents critical to the success of any extension program (Oakley & Garforth, Easter)

• One of weakest yet most critical resources to strengthen extension is staff members (Swanson & Rajalahti)

• Field agents have little knowledge/experience in extension education (Cho; Mutimba & Bekele; Andovor, Estrada-Valle & Yin)

• Field agents need competence in planning, delivery, evaluation, communication, teaching methods (Raad, Yoder &

Diamond; Rigyal & Wongsamum)

• Professional development based on well-intentioned competencies (Mulder)

Purpose and Objectives

Purpose:

Agriculture colleges personnel determine ways to incorporate extension education into the master’s curricula

Objectives:

• Investigate the potential for extension education programs

• Identify skills/competencies needed by agriculture graduates

• Propose an extension education program model

What We Did

• Partnership between Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS) and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

• Designed workshop Preparing Agriculture Science Graduates for Extension

• Faculty and administrators from six universities in sub-Saharan Africa plus graduate students and agencies representatives

• Workshop held at KNUST in Kumasi, Ghana; five phases over four days

Results

• Phase 1 - Four major competency areas identified:

• Needs assessment

• Impact assessment

• Technical skills

• Administrative and management skills

Results

• Phase 2- Essential components for an extension training program identified

• Extension program planning/development process

• Communication

• Innovative thinking

• Administration and supervision

• Groups and group dynamics

• Rural sociology

• Extension teaching methods

• Technology

• Advocacy

Results

• Phase 3 - Options for delivery

• One course; overview of extension education competencies

• Non-degree certificate program; include planning, delivering, and assessing as content of three courses

• Major (degree course) in extension education

Results

• Phase 4 - Nine essential components from Phase 2 collapsed into five focus areas with specific competencies

• Communication Skills and Information Technology

• Rural Sociology

• Leadership and Management

• Program Planning

• Teaching Methods

Results

• Phase 5 - Plan a Course and plan a Certificate Program

• Course: Extension Education and Practice

• Conduct needs assessment

• Design and implement extension program based on needs

• Manage and supervise extension programs

• Identify different socio-cultural settings

• Apply communication theories

• Network and relate with different actors/institutions

• Apply principles of adult teaching/learning

Results

• Phase 5 - Plan a Course and plan a Certificate Program

• Certificate in Extension (three courses)

• Program planning

• Communication skills

• Teaching methodology

What’s Next

• Colleges determine which alternative best fits existing master’s programs

• MEAS and AGRA continue to support development and enhancement of extension field agent training

• Materials shared with other institutions in the region

• Follow-up workshops to assist colleges in preparing course syllabi and enhancing delivery of instruction

This presentation was given:

By R. Kirby Barrick, University of Florida, on behalf of MEAS project

Agricultural Extension and Food Security Conference October 20-21, 2014Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Terms of Use:

© R. Kirby Barrick and MEAS project. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Users are free:• to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work• to Remix — to adapt the work

Under the following conditions:• Attribution — Users must attribute the work to the author(s)/institution

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Disclaimer:

This presentation was made possible by the generous support of

the American people through the United States Agency for

International Development, USAID. The contents are the

responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the

views of USAID or the United States Government.

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