Recipient Organization
KANSAS STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MANHATTAN,KS 66506
Performing Department
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Non Technical Summary
Project funds will be used to support the enhancement of the international course, Comparative Food and Agricultural Systems. Three additional modules, one from Uganda, Africa, one from Beirut, Lebanon and one from New Zealand will be developed, produced and delivered to graduate students. This would allow for a more global coverage and allow for the addition of three important regions that are currently missing from the course. The three new instructors will enjoy the expertise of the K-State faculty and other international faculty that currently teaches in the Master of Agribusiness distance education program. In addition, while a master's level professional degree is appropriate to target because of the ability to educate today's future food and agribusiness leaders, it is also important to integrate those skills in an undergraduate curriculum. Project funds will also be used to support collaboration between Kansas State University and the University of Florida in
organizing and marketing the international course to undergraduate students at Kansas State and the University of Florida. The course will focus on many elements of food and agribusiness management and agricultural production. Through the course modules students will learn the financial, economic, political, logistical, agronomic, meteorological, topographical, and animal husbandry advancements and constraints of each economic region relative to the import and export of food and food products.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
1. Train the MENA expert on distance education technology and develop MENA curriculum. 2. Materials for the MENA section will be developed and the MENA module will be integrated within the course. 3. Offer the modified course via distance at the masters level. 4. Train New Zealand expert on distance education technology and develop Oceania curriculum. 5. Materials for the Oceania section will be developed and the Oceania module will be integrated within the course. 6. Offer the modified course via distance at the masters level. 7. Train African expert on distance education technology and develop sub Saharan Africa curriculum. 8. Materials for sub Saharan Africa section will be developed and the sub Saharan African module will be integrated within the course. 9. Offer the modified course via distance at the masters level. 10. Adjust the curriculum of the graduate course to meet the needs of undergraduates. 11. Initially market the course through Kansas State Universitys
Division of Continuing Education to Kansas State and the University of Florida students. 12. Teach Kansas State University and the University of Florida students of the new undergraduate distance internationally focused course. 13. Develop a business model to make the course available to other U.S. universities.
Project Methods
The grant will allow the development the MENA, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa modules which will enhance the Comparative Foods and Agriculture systems course, and in the organization and delivery of the course to undergraduate students. The course has been well received by graduate students; however, we are anxious to provide for a more enriched course with the addition of other important regions of the world. Additionally, modifying the course to meet the needs of on-campus undergraduate students will allow them to have a unique and international experience of the food and agricultural sector by participating in this course. The international faculty, Dr. Lisa House from the University of Florida and Dr. Allen Featherstone from K-State would meet in 2006 to discuss the structure, specific content and reorientation of the course that will be delivered to undergraduate students. In addition, the business model will be developed and refined. This was the process used to
develop the model for the graduate course. The undergraduate course would initially be available university wide to undergraduate students at Kansas State University and the University of Florida. The course would be delivered using a combination of distance technology and on-campus sessions to the students at KSU and UF. Lectures would be delivered using CD-Rom and students would also be able to access the course materials via the Internet using K-State Onliner. Students would be provided a CD, which would include all lecture notes, supplemental readings, and homework assignments. Scheduled chat sessions, similar to university recitation periods, would be held weekly at Kansas State University and the University of Florida. To add the sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and MENA modules, the methodology used to develop the original modules will be used to develop the course. Specifically, faculty members design the course from a uniform course outline, and are trained on the technology
before producing course materials. The course is produced in country with the assistance of other K-State faculty teaching in the MAB program. A faculty member from the University of Florida or Kansas State travels abroad and assists with course production. In addition, they give seminars on distance learning programs, equip the faculty members computer with the necessary distance education software, test the operation of that software, and begin to make contacts with other faculty that have interest to foster joint research opportunities.