Investigating process skills and competency gaps in undergraduate agricultural extension curriculum in selected South African Universities
Keywords:
agricultural extension, agricultural extension curriculum, competencies and skillsAbstract
The Michigan State University Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) launched a multi-country study to contribute to upgrading and tailoring the agricultural extension curricula at participating institutions. The first phase of primary data collection consisted of focus group discussions. The focus groups were structured around a specific objective: gathering information around specific questions. Focus group discussions were followed by an online survey of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) role players, of which the results will be discussed separately. It was concluded from the focus group discussions that the AEAS workers in South Africa lacked the critical skills to perform their responsibilities efficiently. Several required skills were singled out during the focus group discussions. It was concluded that it is vital for agricultural development in the country to ensure that these skills and competencies are included in all South African teaching institutions' curricula. It is therefore recommended that it is critical for each institution offering agricultural extension training to keep the curriculum relevant so that it meets the needs of the profession. Keeping the curriculum relevant includes participatory curriculum development (PCD), regular review of the curriculum by all the stakeholders of the profession, and the necessary collaborations with professional bodies to regulate the curriculum. The efficiency in the sector will be enhanced if AEAS qualifications at the various training institutions cater to the profession's demands.
Downloads
References
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICA (ASSAF)., (2017). Revitalising agricultural education and training in South Africa (Concise), p. 11. Available online at: https://research.assaf.org.za/bitstream/handle/20.500.11911/97/2017assaf_revitalising_agricultural_education_concise.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
CALICIOGLU, O., FLAMMINI, A., BRACCO, S., BELLÙ, L., AND SIMS, R. (2019). The future challenges of food and agriculture: An integrated analysis of trends and solutions. Sustainability, 11(1) 222. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330149688_The_Future_Challenges_of_Food_and_Agriculture_An_Integrated_Analysis_of_Trends_and_Solutions https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010222
CHIKAIRE, J.U., ANI, A.O., ATOMA, C.N., AND TIJJANI, A.R. (2015). Capacity building: key to agricultural extension survival. Scholars j. agric. vet. sci., 2(1A), 13-21.
DAVIS, K., AND SULAIMAN, R.V. (2014). The new extensionist roles and capacities to strengthen extension and advisory services. J. Int. Agric. Ext. Educ., 21(3), 6-18. https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20153090436 http://dx doi.org/10.5191/jiaee.2014.21301
DAVIS, K., AND TERBLANCHÉ, S.E. (2016). Challenges facing the agricultural extension landscape in South Africa, Quo Vadis? SAJAE, 44(2), 231-247. http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0301-603X2016000200020 http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2016.v44n2a428
DAVIS, K., VON MALTITZ, L., ANUGWA, I., VAN NIEKERK, J., AND NGOMANE, T. (2021). Extension system and curriculum review in South Africa. Online presentation for MSU Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) Consortium Partners in Africa.
DEPARTMENT OF Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesFORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT (DFFE)AFF., (2009). Report on profiling of the current government employedgovernment-employed extension and advisory service officers. Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DALRRD)., (2020). Draft review of the national framework for the minimum norms and standards for extension and advisory services in agriculture. Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
DOWELANI, M., AND DOWELANI, F. (2020). Curriculum development in South Africa: the role of professional bodies. 6th International conference on higher education advances. Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia, Valéncia, Spain. https://archive.headconf.org/head20/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/HEAd20-program.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/HEAd20.2020.11188
EASTERLY, R.G., WARNER, A.J., MYERS, B.E., LAMM, A.J., AND TELG, R.W. (2017). Skills students need in the real world: competencies desired by agricultural and natural resources industry leaders. J. Agric. Educ., 58(4), 225-239. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1167162.pdf https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2017.04225
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO), (2017). The future of food and agriculture – Trends and challenges. Rome, Italy.
FREER, T.J. (2015). Modernising the agricultural education and training curriculum. Innovation for agricultural training and education. Retrieved from: https://innovate.cired.vt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Thematic-Study-Modernizing-AET-Curriculum_112415_-FINAL.pdf https://innovate.cired.vt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Thematic-Study-Modernizing-AET-Curriculum_112415_-FINAL.pdf
GADZIRAYI, C., MAFUSE, N., ZIVENGE, E., VEREMU, R., AND SANSOLE, W. (2020). Agricultural extension needs of frontline extension workers under a pluralistic advisory system: Case of Zimbabwe growth program. IJASRT in EESInternational, 10(4), 165-172. https://ijasrt.shoushtar.iau.ir/article_678013_4f3341097f0c232cdb1a6c6ae4baf590.pdf http://ijasrt.iau-shoushtar.ac.ir
HENNIK, M.M. (2014). Focus group discussions. Oxford University Press, New York, United States.
INSTITUTE FOR FUTURES RESEARCH (IFR)., (2022). Futures Report on Agricultural Employment 2035. University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
KHAPAYI, M., AND CELLIERS, P.R. (2016). Factors limiting and preventing emerging farmers to progress to commercial agricultural farming in the King Williams's Town area of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. SAJAE, 44(1), 25-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2016/v44n1a374
LUCIANI, M., CAMPBELL, K., TSCHIRHART, H., AUSILI, D., AND JACK, S.M. (2019). How to design a qualitative health research study. Part 1: Design and purposeful sampling considerations. Prof. Inferm., 72(2):152-161. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335883545_How_to_Design_a_Qualitative_Health_Research_Study_Part_1_Design_and_Purposeful_Sampling_Considerations
MANGOSUTHU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (MUT). 2022. Community Extension. Available at: https://www.mut.ac.za/community-extension/
MERRIAM, S.B., AND TISDELL, E.J. (2016). Qualitative research: a guide to design and implementation. John Wiley and Sons, San Francisco, USA.
OLIVEIRA, INGRID. 2022. "The New Extensionist Learning Kit." Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS). Available at: https://www.g-fras.org/en/knowledge/new-extensionist-learning-kit-nelk.html.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY (SAQA). (2021). National Qualification Framework. Available online at: https://www.saqa.org.za/
STABBACK, P. (2016). What makes a quality curriculum? In-Progress Reflection No.2 on Current and Critical Issues in Curriculum and Learnming. UNESCO International Bureau of Education, p.14. Available online at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000243975
SUVEDI, M. (2019). Global need for revitalisation of agricultural extension training. JOE (Conference Special), 31(3):6306-19. Available online at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9597/aa22e6253754a4abf498ee9e95109d0cc45b.pdf https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2019.3.31.6306-6319
SUVEDI, M., AND KAPLOWITZ, M. (2016). What every extension worker should know. Core competency handbook. USAID Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS). https://meas.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MEAS-2016-Extension-Handbook-Suvedi-Kaplowitz-2016_02_15.pdf www.meas.illinois.edu
TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (TUT). 2018. Prospectus 2018, Faculty of Science. National Diploma: Agriculture: Development and Extension, p. 2-4. Available at: https://www.tut.ac.za/ProspectusDocuments/2018/4.%20NDip_Agricultue_Develoment_2018.pdf
UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE. No Date. Faculty of Science and Agriculture. P. 29 – 31. Available at: https://www.ufh.ac.za/files/Faculty%20of%20Science%20and%20Agriculture.pdf
UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE (UFS). 2022. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Sustainable Food Systems and Development. Agriculture Extension. Available at: https://www.ufs.ac.za/natagri/departments-and-divisions/Sustainable-Food-Systems-and-Development/agriculture-extension/agriculture-extension
VAN HUYSSTEEN, R. (2002). The introduction of the South African National Qualifications Framework: A brief overview with reference to higher education. The University of Cape Town, Cape.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 J.A. van Niekerk, L. Maltitz von Maltitz, K. Davis
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}