Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Target Audience: Undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in agribusiness Faculty with an interest in teaching entrepreneurship Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project pointed out the need to provide further assistance to local farmers in effectively managing their farm as a business How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The undergraduate course in Agribusiness Development Courses for the MBA concentration in Agribusiness were completed and went through University approval process Agribusiness Resource Center to provide information to local community was implemented
Publications
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
This report provides an overview of the progress thus far on achieving the objectives outlined in the proposal. OBJECTIVE 1:The Enterprise Development undergraduate course with an emphasis on the agribusiness industry was developed and is currently being offered in the Spring 2006. OBJECTIVE 2:In collaboration with the MBA Program in Agribusiness grant, the entrepreneurship track curriculum was finalized and the program implemented in Fall 2005. This grant provided assistance in developing the Experiential Learning, Business Plan, and Mentoring Components. OBJECTIVE 3:The Center is currently in the development stage. Space for the Center has been identified and will be located on the fourth floor in Belcher Hall. Computers and printers for the Center have been acquired. During the Spring 2006 additional resources to include software, books, videos, supplies, and other items will be acquired. A database of agribusiness firms in South Carolina has been completed and is
currently being used to conduct a needs assessment study in the to determine the specific needs of companies in terms of training programs, consultancy, support services and research data needs. The Center is expected to become operational by June 2006. A website will also be developed by June 1 to provide access to some services provided by the Center. OBJECTIVE 4:This is in the development stage. A series of seminars will be developed to create a certificate program in Agribusiness Enterprise Development. This program is not expected to be implemented until the Fall 2006. OBJECTIVE 5:Faculty development skills in entrepreneurship have been enhanced. Thus far, faculty have engaged in two (2) Ph.D seminars in research in entrepreneurship; two (2) Experiential Classroom Symposiums on teaching entrepreneurship; and (1) leadership training. It is expected that faculty will complete training in agribusiness during the spring and summer 2006. OBJECTIVE 6:The Students in Free Enterprise
(SIFE) Program provides an experiential based entrepreneurial and free enterprise educational program that entails the development of students as they move from middle school to college. This project supports the SIFE program. SIFE has conducted several projects incluing a summer day camp called SEED (Students Engaged in Enterprise Development) during the last two weeks in June. SIFE also traveled to Charlotte to participate in the Regional Competitions where they presented their projects, which included a financial management, ethics and other entrepreneurship projects. In addition to the objectives above, the project has provided scholarships for three (3) graduate students In summary, the Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship Project has made satisfactory progress toward the accomplishments of its objectives. During the remaining period of the grant the following will be completed: 1.Implementation of the AGRIBusiness Resource Center 2.Development and Implementation of Agribusiness
Enterprise Development Certificate Program 3.Development of Agribusiness Resource Center website
PRODUCTS: The following products have resulted from the project: 1. A database of all agribusiness related firms in South Carolina 2. Computer workstations for use by public and students 3. brochures
OUTCOMES: The outcomes of this project will include a Resource Center that will provide assistance and training for agribusiness entrepeneurs and trained faculty to teach courses in the MBA program in Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The activities of the AGRIBusiness Resource Center will be disseminated through a website and brochures.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future initiatives will be to seek additional funding, offer various training programs for agribusiness entrepreneurs; offer internships for graduate students, and conduct research of various aspects of the agribusiness industry
Impacts
One impact has been the enhancement of faculty training. The impact of the Cente cannot be detemined yet since it will not become operational until June.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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