Progress 03/01/12 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: This program reached a total of 6 Chinese professors and 56 American participants, including professors and students from 7 universities and colleges, business owners,and horticultural professionals. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three study abroad/international field trips. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Blog: http://aggiehortgoestochina.blogspot.com/ Conference presentations: M. Gu. 2014. Workshop: Gateways to international horticulture----potentials and challenges. ASHS Annual Conference, July 27 - August 01, 2014, Orlando, FL. Zhang, D. and M. Gu. 2014. International collaboration on teaching, research and extension. ASHS Annual Conference, July 27 - August 01, 2014, Orlando, FL. Kim, H.J. and M. Gu. 2014. Benefits of Studying Abroad from Global Perspective. ASHS Annual Conference, July 27 - August 01, 2014, Orlando, FL. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A study abroad course was created at each of the participating institutions (MSU, UA, UF and TAMU). A total of 44 students and 12 ag professional participated in three study abroad/international field trips. This project increased faculty, students' and ag professionals' exposure to international technology and marketing, and enhanced faculty and students' understanding of and confidence in international competition in marketing of horticultural produce. Faculty learning from the project has been incorporated in their teaching activities to benefit more students. Participants have also used social media to share their experience. A blog dedicated to the international trips had 105 posts and reached over 27,000 pageviews from over 20 countries. Six Chinese collaborators visited the US institutions and horticultural industry, which improved their understanding of season extension technology. Collaborative programs have been developed between Chinese and American faculty members, and among American faculty members. With the relationship built during the project implementation, the PI has secured 5 grants in the area of specialty crop sustainable production and marketing with a total funding over $431K. These funding has improved research and outreach programs in season extension production, and improved competitiveness of growers. Faculty sharing their experience from the project at professional conferences has help their peers to develop similar programs and thus to benefit more students. A manuscript is being written to summarize the project progress.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
M. Gu. 2014. Workshop: Gateways to international horticulture----potentials and challenges. ASHS Annual Conference, July 27 August 01, 2014, Orlando, FL.
Zhang, D. and M. Gu. 2014. International collaboration on teaching, research and extension. ASHS Annual Conference, July 27 August 01, 2014, Orlando, FL.
Kim, H.J. and M. Gu. 2014. Benefits of Studying Abroad from Global Perspective. ASHS Annual Conference, July 27 August 01, 2014, Orlando, FL.
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Progress 03/01/12 to 02/28/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two PI/Co-PI's led a group of six participants (one undergraduate horticulture students from Texas A&M University and one food science graduate student from University of Florida, and four agriculture professionals) to study season extension production and marketing on a joint study abroad trip for students (HORT489 Season Extension Horticulture in China) and international field trip for agriculture professionals. We visited Beijing Forestry University, China Agriculture University, and Beijing IEDA Protected Horticulture Co. in Beijing, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan Academy of Agriculture Sciences and Speedling in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yang's Roses, Wangjiale Agri-tourism Co, cut flower auction, and several container and cut flower companies in Yunnan Province. During the trip, the groups learned Chinese style solar greenhouses, greenhouse hydronic production of vegetables, plant factory, tea production and processing, landscape plant trials, cut flower production (field, high tunnel and greenhouse), marketing and breeding. Dr. Gu presented a poster "International field trip for Horticulture Production and Marketing in China" and co-presented "Innovation in high tunnel production" (repeated on 01/25 & 01/26) at the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Annual Conference, Little Rock AR January 23-26, 2013. Dr. Gu presented "Horticulture extension in China: 2 case studies" and "Using blogs to communicate student international experiences" at Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Sciences annual meeting in February, 2013. Dr. Gu presented 1-hr "High tunnel construction and production" Texas Organic Farmers and Gardener's Association Annual Conference in Austin, TX on 02/08, and 5-hr "High tunnel construction and production" at a workshop organized by Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Gu also gave a presentation on "China Urban Landscape Philosophy" SFA Gardens Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at Stephen F. Austin State University at Nacogdoches, TX. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, University of Florida and Mississippi State University TARGET AUDIENCES: Students and agricultural professional, especially in SEC institutions and states. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This was the first time a study abroad course in China was offered in Department of Horticultural Sciences or College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. All participants (students, agricultural professionals and PI/Co-PI's) had better understanding of season extension horticulture production and marketing in China, which included, but was not limited to, Chinese style solar greenhouses, greenhouse hydronic production of vegetables, plant factory, tea production and processing, landscape plant trials, cut flower production (field, high tunnel and greenhouse), marketing and breeding. Trip journal was required in the trip prior to 2012. However, the trip journal was only read by the professor, who may have required the trip journal as part of the grading rubrics. Since the journal is normally turned in at the end of the trip, although it may be required to be checked periodically by the instructor, there is limited interaction between the instructor and students on how to improve the journal. Instead of a trip journal, students on this study abroad course in China were required to have daily posts on a class specific class (http://aggiehortinchina2012.blogspot.com/). The audience of the blog could the whole world, thus it enables great information sharing and interaction. The blog posts received 3,779 views from audience from the US, Russia, France, India, United Kingdom, Philippines, China, Canada, Germany and Thailand by the end of January 2013. In addition, PI blogged about the trip at http://greenviion.wordpress.com.We learned that blogs could be a valuable tool to share information that students learned on the trip and to promote awareness for future similar study abroad courses. Dr. Rick Snyder, one of the agricultural professionals on the trip, wrote a short article about the trip on Growing Produce ("China Horticulture Tour 2012"; published on 08/10/2012; http://www.growingproduce.com/article/30589/china-horticulture-tour-2 012), attracting additional attention from the specialty crop professionals. Participants also had increased understanding of general agriculture and culture in China.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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