Tertiary Agriculture Education & Research @ USP

Regional Pacific Workshop – Science for ImpactBuilding the Critical Mass

Vudal University, 25 – 27 November 2009

D. Hunter, M. Umar & S. Lameta

Profile

• Premier tertiary education provider in the region

• Distinctively and uniquely Pacific• Multimode teaching - F2F & DFL (on-line,

print)• 12 member countries

The USP region

Alafua Campus, SAMOA

Vice Chancellor

Dean

Faculty of Business and Economics

IRETA SAFT

SAFT Scientists

Research Coordinator

Extension Training

Undergraduate qualifications in Agriculture @ USP

• 1. Diploma in Agriculture ( 2-years program)- 12 degree-level courses offered through F2F or DFL- 12-weeks practicum/working attachments (Supervised hands-

on skills training)• - Courses may be cross-credited towards B.Agr Degree

2. Bachelor of Agriculture (3-years Program)-20 degree-level courses offered through F2F, DFL or Flexi-schools-12-weeks practicum/working attachments (Supervised hands-on skills training)-Students can choose from one of the following special study areas:

• BAgr (Agribusiness)• BAgr (Applied Science)

Postgraduate qualifications in Agriculture @ USP

• 3. Postgraduate Programmes• - The Postgraduate Diploma and Master

programmes in Agriculture are for those students who may wish to advance and specialise in the following study areas:• MAgr (Crop Science) – 4 courses +

thesis• MAgr (Agricultural Economics) – 4

courses + thesis4. Research Topics of Postgraduate Studies

• Students to work on local problems identified by stakeholders

Research @ USP by SAFT-IRETA

• Objective 1 – To build USP’s capacity for inter-disciplinary research and focus on the priorities of its 12 member countries

• Objective 2 – To effectively disseminate research results and outcomes

• Core agricultural issues:- Climate Change- Food Security- Income Generation

Producing the kinds of graduates required

• Research skills – Statistics for Agriculture (2nd year; revised), & Research Skills & Project (3rd year; revised)

• Extension skills – Agricultural Extension (2nd year; revised)

• Project management skills – Agricultural Project Management (3rd year; new)