SHORT LEARNING PROGRAMMES

The need to maintain and manage Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development against the background of its particular social complexity was addressed through the establishment of relevant and integrated short learning programmes. Community development is significantly addressed by these supplementary programmes for professionals, whereby key role players such as extension officers, farmers, teachers, consultants, and community leaders are empowered.

Five-day short course  Evaluation will be done on a continuous basis, as well as an integrated assignment of all the themes within the short learning programme. This assessment approach provides students the opportunity to display the ability to reflect theory, concepts, and practical performance across the different themes to achieve understanding in relation to the purpose of this qualification.

Short courses on offer include:

•  Sustainable Livestock and Sustainable Livestock and
• • understand the importance of a sound grazing system
  • apply strategical lick supplementation to grazing ruminants
  • appreciate the impact of genetic improvement in a herd
  • formulate a sound animal health program
  • understand the principles of mating seasons
  • appreciate the role of livestock in rural development
• Crop Production Practices Crop Production Practices
  • Discuss the importance of agro-meteorology on plant production
  • Relate to the importance of soil as a natural resource
  • Appreciate the basic principles as prerequisite for plant production
  • Formulate a sound plant health program
  • Recognise the role of plant production in the value of Rural Development and farming communities
• Rural Development Rural Development
  • understand the importance of Rural Development
  • acquire communication skills for Rural Development
  • appreciate project management for Rural Development
  • understand time management for Rural Development
  • understand the principles of sustainable agriculture within Rural Development; and
  • be able to integrate all aspects of Rural Development
• Natural Resource Assessment Natural Resource Assessment
  • Evaluate the suitability of climate for Dryland farming and natural pastures
  • Selection of appropriate indicators for the evaluation of soil quality
  • Utilize indicators to evaluate soil quality
  • Identify the deterioration of natural grazing
  • Evaluate the health status of natural grazing
• Agricultural Entrepreneurship Agricultural Entrepreneurship
  • Explain the concept of agri-entrepreneurship;
  • Evaluate the key skills involved in running a business;
  • Identify markets, map resources and conduct business planning;
  • Explain the basic principles of financial management, sales and risk management;
  • Perform operations and financial record keeping; and
  • Explain how you would go about building a business and manage relationships.
• Evaluation of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Evaluation of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services
  • Discuss the role and principles of modern agricultural extension and advisory services;
  • Discuss the role of agricultural extension in the agricultural innovation system;
  • Describe monitoring and evaluation in the agricultural extension context;
  • Define the importance of monitoring and evaluation in accountability of agricultural extension programmes;
  • Document the value the monitoring and evaluation of extension programmes and indicate how it can be used to improve policies and practices in agricultural extension; and
  • Describe the main challenges of modern agricultural extension and the characteristics for the monitoring and evaluation of interventions.
• The Role of Agricultural Extension in Supporting Value Chains (Practical) The Role of Agricultural Extension in Supporting Value Chains (Practical)
  • Apply market analysis tools to identify market opportunities;
  • Assess value chain upgrading strategies;
  • Develop a basic business plan for the implementation of a value chain upgrading strategy; and
  • Evaluate the use of ICTs in value chain services in the agriculture sector.
• Knowledge Management and Agricultural Extension Knowledge Management and Agricultural Extension
  • Distinguish between and describe different types of knowledge relevant to agricultural extension and innovation;
  • Describe the basics of knowledge management and demonstrate the intermediary roles needed to foster knowledge flow;
  • Employ the most appropriate intermediary role for a particular situation;
  • Distinguish between different communication media and tools that can support knowledge management; and
  • Analyse an agricultural extension case and employ the most appropriate method to support knowledge management in this particular scenario.
• Agricultural Extension and Community Mobilisation Agricultural Extension and Community Mobilisation
  • Discuss the importance of community mobilisation;
  • Debate the impact of culture and diversity on community mobilisation;
  • Identify and discuss appropriate approaches for community mobilisation;
  • Plan and carry out a livelihood assets assessment;
  • Analyse, interpret and apply the information from livelihood assets assessments;
  • Design processes and methods of community mobilisation strategies that involve women and the youth;
  • Discuss the role of leadership development in community mobilisation; and
  • Apply resource mobilisation strategies in community mobilisation.
• The Role of Agricultural Extension in Supporting Value Chains (Theory) The Role of Agricultural Extension in Supporting Value Chains (Theory)
  • Explain why agricultural marketing is important for farmers;
  • Explain the agricultural market, the value chain and the key actors in the value chain;
  • Assess market linkage methods;
  • Analyse markets and value chains;
  • Develop a basic action plan to support the producer’s engagement with potential markets.
• Facilitation for Development in Agricultural Extension Facilitation for Development in Agricultural Extension
  • Explain the concept of facilitation for development as a core function of extension profession in agricultural innovation systems;
  • Employ appropriate methods and tools of facilitating change in individuals, groups and organisations;
  • Design processes and methods of facilitating Innovation platforms and other multi-stakeholder engagements; and
  • Explain the importance of brokering strategic partnerships, learning alliances and networks in fostering innovation.
• Agricultural Extension Programme Management Agricultural Extension Programme Management
  • Define the basic concepts and underpinning theories of agricultural extension management and demonstrate how these are applied to improve the practice of agricultural extension.
  • Describe the importance of agricultural extension programmes and the process of programme planning.
  • Describe the theories, principles, process and functions of a good manager.
  • Differentiate between approaches to management strategies or extension organisations.
  • Discuss the relevance of leadership, motivation, and group dynamics in management.
  • Evaluate the importance of farmer involvement and apply the tools of programme planning.
  • Develop an action plan for your time management process and identify ways to evaluate and improve your efforts.
  • Use theory-driven arguments to demonstrate the importance of human resource management in agricultural extension programmes.
  • Reflect on the importance of coordination and control within a pluralistic system of extension.

For more information, contact us at msa@ufs.ac.za

Admission requirements

Unless stated otherwise, the institutional rules and regulations of the University of the Free State and the faculty takes precedence in applying for this qualification. Students with an NSC (National Senior certificate) or related Higher Certificate or qualification, at NQF level 5, meets the minimum requirements for application.

Only groups of 25-100 applicants (sponsored by their employers) will be considered for enrolment and presentation of the Short Learning Programme.

Learning assessments

Applicants will attend sessions for a week, after which continuous evaluation and integrated assignments of all themes within the Short Learning Programme will be assessed. For each theme, a complete study guide and material will be prepared. Evaluations will be done on a continuous basis, as well as integrated assignments of all the themes within the Short Learning Programme. This assessment approach in the Short Learning Programme provides students with an opportunity to display an ability to reflect theory, concepts, and practical performance across the different theme areas to achieve understanding in relation to the purpose of this qualification.