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Author: Davis, Kristin E.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 42
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Book Description
Extension and advisory services are key to sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive growth. In South Africa, there is need for new training, skills, and attitudes by extension staff to meet the demands of the changing sector. The purpose was to find out South African extension agent competency levels, attitudes and mindsets, especially toward digital extension, to be relevant for the future. Using a population survey, we targeted all public and non-public extension staff from every province using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We examined existing competencies, new needs, and differences in attitudes and competencies by factors such as education, employer, age, and gender. We created an index of “digital readiness” and an index of “technological readiness” based on technology use and attitudes and compared by various factors such as sector, age, and gender. We find that while extension officers tend to have a good arsenal of technical skills, they are less equipped with functional skills. Several competencies and attitudes necessary for the new norms and standards for extension officers are lacking in a good proportion of respondents, such as inclusivity and empowerment. While extension staff recognize the importance of digital literacy for the future, only about half have received any training on the use of digital tools. We recommend that extension role players take a systems view to revitalize extension. For extension to perform effectively, we must go beyond skills and training. Extension departments and organizations also need a certain level of competencies, and the enabling environment should be conducive. We recommend that, in addition to rounding out the technical and functional expertise of South African extension and advisory services staff that adequate incentives and rewards are in place to ensure professionalism and motivation.
Author: Davis, Kristin E.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 42
Get Book Here
Book Description
Extension and advisory services are key to sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive growth. In South Africa, there is need for new training, skills, and attitudes by extension staff to meet the demands of the changing sector. The purpose was to find out South African extension agent competency levels, attitudes and mindsets, especially toward digital extension, to be relevant for the future. Using a population survey, we targeted all public and non-public extension staff from every province using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We examined existing competencies, new needs, and differences in attitudes and competencies by factors such as education, employer, age, and gender. We created an index of “digital readiness” and an index of “technological readiness” based on technology use and attitudes and compared by various factors such as sector, age, and gender. We find that while extension officers tend to have a good arsenal of technical skills, they are less equipped with functional skills. Several competencies and attitudes necessary for the new norms and standards for extension officers are lacking in a good proportion of respondents, such as inclusivity and empowerment. While extension staff recognize the importance of digital literacy for the future, only about half have received any training on the use of digital tools. We recommend that extension role players take a systems view to revitalize extension. For extension to perform effectively, we must go beyond skills and training. Extension departments and organizations also need a certain level of competencies, and the enabling environment should be conducive. We recommend that, in addition to rounding out the technical and functional expertise of South African extension and advisory services staff that adequate incentives and rewards are in place to ensure professionalism and motivation.
Author: Davis, Kristin E.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 16
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Book Description
Public and nonpublic extension and advisory services are both key to sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive growth1. The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) has called for “the new extensionist”(Davis and Sulaiman 2014), emphasizing the functional competencies needed to help clientele cope with complex challenges such as climate change and nutrition. Since 2015 the GFRAS “New Extensionist Learning Kit” (NELK)has been equipping extension agents globally with functional competencies through face-to-face, online, and blended learning(AFAAS 2018). Competencies are defined in many different ways (Westera 2021). For this paper, we define competency simply as “the capability to perform actions which add value” (Mulder, 2012: 319). Functional competencies(the so-called soft skills, as distinct from more technical areas in agriculture, animal sciences, natural resources, etc.)have not been well documented in the academic literature, especially with respect to digitally enabled extension (Strong et al. 2014). According to Khalil and colleagues (2009), competencies such as leadership, communication, program planning, and evaluation are important factors for performance of extension staff. Digital skills are also becoming more important for extension officers. The utilization of digital technology (online modules, webinars) to deliver the NELK modules provides the opportunity to use expertise available globally to train many extension professionals at the same time. How ready, however, are extension officers globally to use such digital approaches –for continuous professional development and learning and also for outreach? Spielman and colleagues (forthcoming) developed an index of “digital readiness” of extension agents in Rwanda. Digital readiness is also referred to as Networked Readiness Index or Technology Index, and indicates the status and growth of information and communications technologies (ICT) and how ICTs are effectively used to achieve maximum benefits to the country and its citizens (Bharatula and Murthy 2020).
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 308
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Book Description
Author: Shankariah Chamala
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 472
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Book Description
Author: Nripendra P. Rana
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030243745
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 337
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Book Description
This book examines issues and implications of digital and social media marketing for emerging markets. These markets necessitate substantial adaptations of developed theories and approaches employed in the Western world. The book investigates problems specific to emerging markets, while identifying new theoretical constructs and practical applications of digital marketing. It addresses topics such as electronic word of mouth (eWOM), demographic differences in digital marketing, mobile marketing, search engine advertising, among others. A radical increase in both temporal and geographical reach is empowering consumers to exert influence on brands, products, and services. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and digital media are having a significant impact on the way people communicate and fulfil their socio-economic, emotional and material needs. These technologies are also being harnessed by businesses for various purposes including distribution and selling of goods, retailing of consumer services, customer relationship management, and influencing consumer behaviour by employing digital marketing practices. This book considers this, as it examines the practice and research related to digital and social media marketing.
Author: Anol Bhattacherjee
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781475146127
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156
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Book Description
This book is designed to introduce doctoral and graduate students to the process of conducting scientific research in the social sciences, business, education, public health, and related disciplines. It is a one-stop, comprehensive, and compact source for foundational concepts in behavioral research, and can serve as a stand-alone text or as a supplement to research readings in any doctoral seminar or research methods class. This book is currently used as a research text at universities on six continents and will shortly be available in nine different languages.
Author: Antonio Argüelles
Publisher: Editorial Limusa
ISBN: 9789681861131
Category : Competency-based education
Languages : en
Pages : 240
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Book Description
Examines the implementation of competency based education and training in a number of countries.
Author: Niels G. Röling
Publisher: CUP Archive
ISBN: 9780521348874
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 260
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Book Description
Author: Joyce L. Epstein
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1483320014
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 508
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Book Description
Strengthen programs of family and community engagement to promote equity and increase student success! When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students′ education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, presents tools and guidelines to help develop more effective and more equitable programs of family and community engagement. Written by a team of well-known experts, it provides a theory and framework of six types of involvement for action; up-to-date research on school, family, and community collaboration; and new materials for professional development and on-going technical assistance. Readers also will find: Examples of best practices on the six types of involvement from preschools, and elementary, middle, and high schools Checklists, templates, and evaluations to plan goal-linked partnership programs and assess progress CD-ROM with slides and notes for two presentations: A new awareness session to orient colleagues on the major components of a research-based partnership program, and a full One-Day Team Training Workshop to prepare school teams to develop their partnership programs. As a foundational text, this handbook demonstrates a proven approach to implement and sustain inclusive, goal-linked programs of partnership. It shows how a good partnership program is an essential component of good school organization and school improvement for student success. This book will help every district and all schools strengthen and continually improve their programs of family and community engagement.
Author: Charles Ameur
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821328439
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 48
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Book Description
Recommends the adoption of multiple strategies for agricultural extension and a flexible attitude by governments in addressing the issue. Agriculture contributes significantly to the growth of many developing countries. Its development is closely linked to several key interrelated factors such as infrastructure, research, extension, farm inputs, rural credit, price policies, and marketing. This paper examines agricultural extension within this context, drawing on a variety of ongoing cases throughout the world. The author stresses the need for governments to define a specific strategy for extension and to re-examine the role of the public sector.
