The ability of countries to leverage knowledge into economic development has been regarded as the more important determinant in the growth of their wealth and power than abundance of natural resources. Hence, more progressive governments allocate a large part of their annual budget to higher education. Still, the process of accumulating knowledge and translating it into practical application is not clear and simple. In formal education, this is problem is generally approached through curricular reforms.
While it is not easy to correlate national development to curricular offerings, their desirability may be evaluated in terms of how their course offerings promise to fulfill the knowledge and skills requirement of the country’s manpower needs, while assuring that the fundamental objectives of education (e.g., good citizenship, high literacy) are adequately taken care of. Different countries vary widely in many respects (e.g., level of economic development, culture, demography, climate) and academics and policymakers tend to favor curricular programs they perceive as relevant for students towards the attainment of their country’s development goals.
In agriculture—a highly location-specific field of study—the curricular offerings tend to be more circumscribed by their own unique agricultural characteristics and national concerns and less by global opportunities. This tendency produces graduates with more parochial outlook and poor competitiveness in the international market for technical manpower.
Recognizing the need to respond to specific needs of the country as well as the emerging opportunities in the global market, the project aims to:
- Enhance the effectiveness of agricultural colleges and universities in Southeast Asian countries through strengthening and enrichment of curricular programs;
- Provide leaders in the academic community a forum for discussion on curricular innovations for Southeast Asian colleges and universities of agriculture;
- Strengthen academic collaboration among colleges and universities in Southeast Asia, particularly in agriculture and relate programs; and
- Encourage and facilitate academic exchange programs and research collaborations among Southeast Asian institutions and those of countries outside the region.
- Preliminary study of agriculture and economic development and existing agricultural curricula. Using currently published statistics and available academic catalogs of selected colleges and universities of agriculture in the Southeast Asian countries and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, a study of different features of agricultural curricula offered in relation to the level of national development will be conducted. Results of the study will be presented in appropriate forums.
- Conference/Symposium on Issues and Concerns in Agriculture Education Curricula. Based on the important issues and concerns expressed by participants during the above said forums, well-known and respected education experts will be identified and invited to prepare papers on specific topics for presentation in the conference/symposium.
- Survey of Existing Agriculture Curricular Programs and Perception of Need for Change.
- Formal Presentation of the Project Report in Appropriate Forums.
- Publication of Final Project Report.
The project is expected to be completed in two years.
For inquiries, please email gsd_at_agri.searca.org.
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