International
Activities
College of Agriculture
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture supports the
agriculture and rural development of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. With
248 professorial personnel and 677 other professional personnel, the
college mounts an extensive program including undergraduate teaching
(1,200 students); graduate education (319 students); research on a wide
spectrum of problems of local, national and international significance;
a comprehensive advisory and non-formal education (Extension) program
for farmers, agribusinesses, rural families, youth, and local community
leaders; testing and diagnostic laboratories; agricultural input
regulatory services; and international agricultural development
activities.
In addition to the main location at Lexington, Kentucky, the
college maintains two regional Research and Education Centers: Education Center at
Princeton, Kentucky and Robinson Station.
The college also has at least one office in each of the 120 Kentucky
counties. The personnel at these locations provide local advisory and
non-formal education services and conduct applied research.
The college's academic departments of Agricultural
Economics, Animal
and Food Sciences, Biosystems
and Agricultural Engineering, Community and Leadership
Development, Entomology,
Forestry,
School of Human and
Environmental Sciences, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Plant
Pathology, Plant and
Soil Sciences, and Veterinary
Science are each involved in teaching, research and extension. The Regulatory
Services Division provides analytical control of feed, seed, and
fertilizer and operates a soil testing service for Kentucky farmers.
The Livestock Disease Diagnostic
Center provides diagnoses for veterinarians and livestock
producers. Agricultural
Communications Services provides computerized information
management services and public information through print, radio, video,
and other electronic media.
The college is noted for its work in reduced tillage farming
systems, reclamation of lands damaged by extractive industries
(mainly coal), biotechnology, plant pathology, plant physiology,
ruminant nutrition, reproductive physiology, diseases of horses,
tobacco production, forage production, grain production, beef
production, on-farm processing and storage of tobacco and grain, soil
hydrology, and rural sociology. The college's agricultural and rural
development activities are the responsibility of its Cooperative
Extension Service which is funded by a mix of federal, state, county
and private funds. The program is noted for having a high level of
local support and participation. It provides information for decision
making to farmers, agribusinesses, community leaders and homemakers. It
also provides leadership and developmental training for the youth of
Kentucky.
International Interest
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture has a record
of professional competence and, equally important, the proven capacity
to successfully manage projects in a broad range of international and
cultural settings. This experience includes: (a) major international
project activities in higher education, on-the-job training, and
related fields, and (b) extensive international research, analysis, and
design work. This record demonstrates our ability to
conceptualize and implement projects attuned to specific needs.
It also reflects our success in recruiting technical and administrative
specialists who are sensitive to cultural differences, and in providing
logistical support services which are sufficiently flexible to function
successfully under a variety of conditions.
Current Activities
* Curriculum Development at the Cherkassy Institute of
Management (Ukraine).
This project was in collaboration with Alabama A&M
University. It was a three-year project funded by the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State under the
NIS College and University Partnership Program. UK’s share of the
project totaled almost $60,000. The proposal was “Development and
Enhancement of Curricula in Business Education and Outreach at
Cherkassy Academy of Management, Cherkassy, Ukraine, under a
Market-Oriented Economy.” The Cherkassy Academy of Management is
now called the East European University of Economics and Management
(EEUEM).
The project involved developing a training manual that was
used for Summer Institutes on Business Development held at EEUEM during
2003-2005. A University of Kentucky faculty member taught modules
at each of the Summer Institutes.
Through the project, the University of Kentucky hosted three
scholars from EEUEM for six weeks in early 2004. During their
time in Lexington, Kentucky, each scholar worked to improve their
teaching methods and class designs by attending classes, discussing
issues with UK faculty, using teaching resources at UK, and other
means. Each visiting scholar had a UK mentor.
A UK faculty member spent a sabbatical leave at the EEUEM
during the 2004-2005 academic year, teaching -- International Marketing
(2 sections) and American Culture and History. During that time
the UK faculty member developed course materials for electronic
delivery and transferred to a mentor at EEUEM who will use them to
teach the courses in the future. He also provided guest lectures
in the Law department (History and Development of the Land Grant
System, The Use of Tenure in American Universities) and provided
special tutoring for two MBA courses: International Marketing and
Corporate Strategy.
An additional UK faculty member visited the EEUEM for seven
weeks during the spring of 2005. During this time the UK faculty
member taught a class on hotel management and was also able to consult
with many faculty members, students, and businesses about tourism in
Ukraine.
********
* Romanian Agribusiness Improvement Project.
Romanian agriculture and food processing is in the midst of a
huge transition. With 40% of its population in rural areas, this
transition is crucial for economic development in Romania.
Romanian farmers must move from small-scale, subsistence agriculture
into a structure which generates increased efficiency and
competitiveness. The agribusiness sector is struggling to
transition toward ultimate membership in the European Union with its
much higher food standards and quality demands. Presently this
sector must compete with other countries (through export and import
competition) that have recently joined the EU and are already making
strides in improving their food system.
A major need is to improve the technical and managerial
capabilities of agribusinesses. Romanian agriculture and
agribusinesses must find their place in the Central European market
place in order to improve living standards. This project will
address some of these needs through technical assistance, collaborative
work, and training for agribusinesses and agricultural entrepreneurs.
The project has the following objectives:
1. to improve the ability of Romanian agribusinesses and
agricultural entrepreneurs to successfully sell products and services
in domestic and international markets.
2. to provide technical expertise that will assist
Romanian agribusinesses improve the quality of existing food products
and develop new food products for export.
3. to work with Romanian farmers to form marketing
groups that will allow them to enter the marketing system with larger
volumes of higher quality products that generate higher net
prices.
The project will have three major components: 1) Two
pilot projects in improved marketing through farmer associations; 2)
training in Romania on topics that will help agribusinesses compete
more effectively (on such topics as food safety and product quality,
agritourism, and marketing); 3) technical assistance from experts who
will assist Romanian agribusinesses in overcoming quality standards and
other barriers for specific products, including study tours at the
University of Kentucky that will support more extensive learning for
selected Romanian agribusinesses in the areas of food safety,
agritourism, and agricultural marketing.
********
* Improving Agricultural Education in the Republic of
Georgia.
This project allows the University of Kentucky (UK) to work
with the Georgia Institute for Public Affairs to improve the
educational quality of agricultural colleges and secondary schools in
the Republic of Georgia (ROG). The project will assist these
colleges and secondary schools in developing a curriculum and in
conducting courses in ways that will assist in improving agriculture in
the ROG. The development of an agricultural teachers association
will also be accomplished during the project’s life.
The objectives for the development of secondary schools are to:
• Improve
teaching methods
• Improve
evaluation techniques
• Integrate
home-based learning and out-of-class activities
• Change the
culture of teaching
• Integrate
agriculture into the existing curriculum through these improved methods
The objectives for the development of agricultural technical
colleges are to:
• Improve
teaching methods
• Improve
evaluation techniques
• Integrate
production activities into student learning
• Change the
culture of teaching
The objectives for the development of teacher association are
to:
• Provide a
network for sharing experiences, teaching materials, and ideas
• Establish a
forum for discussing issues of importance to agricultural teachers
• Present a
means that the thoughts and needs of agricultural education can be
expressed.
• Generate
means to communicate agricultural issues to those outside the sector
********
* Technical Assistance to the Extension System in Serbia.
This project involves various training programs and technical
assistance aimed at improving Serbia’s extension system. There is
a lack of economic activity in rural areas of Serbia and farm
production is constrained by low technology, business skills, and small
scale. Businesses in rural areas are small scale and very local
in nature. In order for rural Serbia to develop, its farmers and
businesses (including agribusinesses) must develop to supply goods and
services that go beyond the local market. Often there are
synergies that can be found or established in rural areas that help
this growth process.
Currently the project is focusing on rural economic
development and how the extension service can be a catalyst for
business development and growth. Currently a workshop is planned
that will help agricultural consultants to become better at stimulating
economic development in their region. Specifically, it will train
agricultural consultants from the public, NGO, and private sector on
ways to increase economic development in their region through training
and technical assistance in community development. It will
involve training trainers, so specific materials will be developed that
they can adapt to their specific clientele.
Specific objectives for the workshop:
1. Explain and illustrate what rural development specialist do.
2. Outline how regional economies work and how regional synergies
can be used in economic development.
3. Present and illustrate tools that rural development
specialists can use in training and in technical assistance to farmers,
businesses, and public servants.
4. Provide details on development strategies that can be used to
assist rural economies.
5. Demonstrate how entrepreneurial skills can be advanced through
economic development efforts.
These training sessions for Serbian extension professionals
(and future sessions) involve one week workshops held in two different
locations in Serbia. At least two University of Kentucky
specialists are involved so that there are more opportunities for the
trainers to interact with participants. The training will be very
interactive with participants encouraged to ask questions and make
comments relevant to the situation in Serbia. The first training
sessions are scheduled for March 2006. Additional training will
be scheduled as the project develops.
********
The College of Agriculture cooperates with various
institutions throughout the world to provide short-term training and
technical assistance. It has hosted international professionals
under the Norman E. Borlaug International Fellows Program and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Cochran Program. Faculty members from
the Eastern European University of Economics and Management have
visited for a month on curriculum development issues. A number of
groups from Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives have
come to the College for short-term training and study tours in various
disciplines -- Farm Management, WTO negotiations, trade policy
formation, and monitoring and evaluation. Two groups from
Establishment National d'Ensignement Superior Agronomy of Dijon
(ENESAD) have visited the College for an advanced, 10-day short course
on U.S. agricultural policy development.
********
The University of Kentucky is a member of the South-East
Consortium for International Development. This consortium of 23
institutions includes most of (but is not limited to) the major state
supported universities with agricultural programs in Southeastern
United States. Consortium membership provides each university
with a formal channel for mobilizing expertise from the consortium
institutions. Informal arrangements with other institutions are
easily made.
********
To promote international collaboration in agricultural
education, research, and technology transfer, the University of
Kentucky College of Agriculture has agreements with a number of foreign
institutions. Examples of currently active agreements include:
* Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R.C. - Exchange
of faculty and students, collaborative research, exchange of
publications.
* Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires,
Argentina - Exchange of faculty and students.
* Sao Paulo State University System, Sao Paulo, Brazil -
Exchange of faculty and collaborative research.
* Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand -
Graduate training of professional staff from the Thai Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives.
* Kasetsart University, Kamphangsaen, Thailand - Exchange of
faculty and students, collaborative research, exchange of publications.
* Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand - Exchange of faculty
and students, collaborative research, exchange of publications.
* French Ministry of Agriculture and associated educational
and research institutions - Exchange of faculty and students, exchange
of farmers and agribusiness persons, collaboration in developmental
efforts in third countries.
International Project Implementation Experience
In 1999-2001 the College of Agriculture assisted the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Marketing Assistance Project in
Armenia. Dr. Craig Infanger served as the leader and two other
faculty were involved in the project.
********
From 1989-93 the College of Agriculture assisted the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Extension Service in strengthening
agricultural services in Poland and other Eastern European (and later
former Soviet) countries. Seven professors or other professional staff
have participated. Dr. John Ragland served as the leader of a large
program in Poland.
********
In 1991 the University in conjunction with Cornell University,
Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University and Fort Valley
State College designed a USAID funded Sustainable Agriculture
Collaborative Research Support Project.
********
In 1989 the University of Kentucky signed a USAID funded
linkage program with the Thai Ministry of Agriculture. This project
provided for collaboration between the University and the Northeast
Regional Office of Agriculture.
********
In November 1988, the University of Kentucky was selected in
international competition by the Asian Development Bank to prepare a
project design for the Six Universities Development and Rehabilitation
Project (Indonesia). This project entailed supplying 22
person-months of consultants over a three-month period to design a
project to strengthen six public universities and 12 private
universities. The focus of the project was on upgrading faculty
capabilities, physical facilities, and equipment of the Colleges of
Engineering, Basic Sciences, Agriculture, Animal Sciences, Fisheries,
Medicine, Public Health and Engineering. This effort resulted in
the approval of a $144 million agreement between ADB and the Government
of Indonesia.
********
The University of Kentucky in cooperation with the University
of Arizona carried out the Nutrition in Agriculture Cooperative
Agreement. This cooperative agreement developed methodology for
including nutritional concerns in farming systems methodology and
helped to plan concurrent nutritional and agricultural changes.
********
In 1983-87, the University of Kentucky was selected to help
implement the Natural Resource Management Project in the Dominican
Republic. Specifically, the University had responsibility for
assisting Dominican scientists in developing soil conserving farming
practices for steeplands.
********
In 1983, the University was designated lead institution of a
SECID project funded by the Asian Development Bank to design a new
project to strengthen the University of Sriwijaya (UNSRI), Palembang,
Indonesia. Target faculties included engineering, medicine,
economics, and agriculture. The design also included planning for
a new campus. The design was completed on schedule and presented
to the Asian Development Bank and the Directorate General for Higher
Education. Based upon this design performance plus the detailed
proposal prepared and submitted by the University of Kentucky and
SECID, the Government of Indonesia selected SECID as the contractor for
the implementation phase of the ADB-UNSRI project. The University
of Kentucky, as the lead institution in the project, managed all
technical and financial aspects of the project. Emphasis was placed
upon assisting in curriculum design, laboratories, classroom, research
programs, etc. for engineering, basic sciences, medicine, agriculture,
and economics.
********
In 1982, the University was contracted by USAID to plan and
help implement a rainfed agricultural development project in Northeast
Thailand. The purpose of this project was to enhance levels of
living through improved agricultural productivity, of low income
farmers in the Northeastern areas which are not currently or in the
foreseeable future to be served by irrigation. A secondary
purpose was to develop and test, in selected representative pilot areas
in Northeast Thailand, integrated farming systems developmental
approaches which might subsequently be implemented in broader areas of
Northeast Thailand. The project targeted approximately 30,000
farm families (200,000 individuals).
Specific activities conducted under the aegis of this project
included: (1) review, analysis, and evaluation of existing
research-generated technological data and recommendations for rainfed
agricultural production in the target areas of Northeast Thailand;
development of recommended packages which are not only technically and
environmentally sound but which are also sufficiently attractive
economically and socially to farmers that they will be widely and
rapidly adopted; (2) familiarization of the team with existing
production, consumption, marketing, and resource-use practices of
farmers in the target areas; identification of specific problem areas
and constraints to improved levels of farm income; solicitation of
"grass roots" participation in problem identification and the design of
project elements to address them; (3) establishment of a system for
organizing and managing project activities so as to be able to draw
upon the resources of various entities of the Thai government; (4)
establishment of priorities and phasing of project activities,
including identification of technical manpower needs (both Thai and
expatriate), training needs, commodity support, and other inputs during
the implementation stage of the project; and (5) design of a system for
evaluating the success of the project and identifying those elements
most likely to be easily transferred and readily adopted in areas
outside the immediate project area.
********
In 1980, the University of Kentucky was invited by the
Government of Indonesia and USAID to participate in the design and
eventually the implementation of a program to assist ten (later
enlarged to eleven) public institutions of higher education in Western
Indonesia in improving their programs in agriculture and rural
development. The project (Western Universities Agricultural
Education Project) provided for upgrading of teaching, research, and
public service programs. It also provided assistance in
administration and management and in the implementation of the
credit-hour system as mandated by the Directorate General of Higher
Education. While primary emphasis was on agriculture, the project
also encompassed the basic sciences, English language programs,
libraries, and other university functions essential to a successful
agricultural program.
Under a $22,000,000 technical assistance and training contract
first awarded on June 1, 1981, the University of Kentucky provided 120
person years of long-term staffing in Indonesia, plus 55 short-term
professionals to this project. These personnel helped teach 45
intensive short courses, helped select and prepare Indonesian faculty
members for study abroad, helped develop curricula and instruction
materials, assisted in Indonesian faculty and student research, as well
as assisting in a wide variety of other technical and managerial tasks
ranging from the development of language laboratories to the equipping
of science labs. In this same period, 194 Indonesian faculty
members received intensive preparation in English and were sent abroad
for graduate work. When all faculty members have completed their
graduate work, 173 completed M.S. degrees; and 50 completed Ph.D.
degrees from institutions outside of Indonesia. A somewhat larger
number received advanced degrees from Indonesian institutions.
Under this project, the Rectors and Academic Vice Rectors and Deans of
Agriculture from each of the eleven BKS-B Indonesian institutions have
participated in a month-long academic administration short course held
on the campus of the University of Kentucky to expand their horizons in
university administration and management. Forty five short
courses on a wide variety of subject matter were conducted in Indonesia
for 1100 Indonesian faculty and staff using joint American-Indonesian
teaching teams.
********
In 1979, the University in cooperation with seven other U.S.
universities was selected to implement the Sorghum-Millet Collaborative
Research Support Project. This project has given the university
valuable experience in dealing with a multi-disciplinary,
multi-institution research on crop production in drier climates.
********
In 1967, the University of Kentucky was selected by USAID to
enter into a contract to assist the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and
Cooperatives to establish a regional research center which would
service the 16 provinces comprising Northeast Thailand. During
the course of this contract (1967-1975), Kentucky helped select and
send to the United States for graduate training, 118 Thai agricultural
specialists representing most of the fields of agricultural
science. The completion rate (i.e., those who completed their
training objectives and received their degrees) of 97 percent was
extraordinarily high. In carrying out this institution-building
program in Thailand, twenty-nine faculty members served at the center.
********
In 1956, the University of Kentucky was fortunate to have been
selected by Government of Indonesia through the United States foreign
aid program to assist educational programs at two Indonesian higher
education institutions: (1) an institute for technological education at
Bandung, and (2) an institute for agricultural education and research
at Bogor. During the 10 year life of the projects, numerous
professors and staff from the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts &
Sciences, and Engineering served in Indonesia, and more than 400
Indonesians were selected and sent to the United States for graduate
training. These two Indonesian institutions have evolved into
mature educational institutions and each has had a profound role in the
development of Indonesia.
********
|
