Summary Report

International and Internationalizing Extension
A dialogue with Dr. Hiram Larew, Director, International Programs, CSREES/USDA
Monday, May 19th, 2003, 10:15 – 11:30
1031 McCarty Hall

The UF/IFAS International Programs Office works with faculty and students in developing international activities and programs.  Pete Vergot, appointed by the Dean of Extension as the UF/IFAS International Program Extension Liaison, is leading efforts to increase program opportunities and recognition of international and internationalizing extension at UF.   This meeting provided an opportunity to bring a group of individuals at UF with shared interests representing a diversity of views together to discuss opportunities and issues facing universities in addressing international extension.  The participants were asked to consider the following questions before coming to the meeting.

  • Why is international extension and internationalizing extension important to you?
  • What are some of the key opportunities and or challenges that you see?

Clearly in the brief amount of time, we did not expect to be able to discuss in much detail the many issues inherent in answers to the above questions.  However, using this as a starting point, many challenges have been identified.    Some recommendations included:

  1. We should continue to seek out opportunities to remain engaged in the discussion.
  2. Share the results of this meeting in written form
  3. Consider scheduling other opportunities for similar discussions on more focused issues.  Hiram Larew indicated that he, or others in his office, may be able to participate occasionally by phone.
  4. Engage members of this group as resource people on training programs that are developed.
  5. Other suggestions or opportunities??

Meeting Objectives

  1. Learn more about the internationalization efforts/initiative.
  2. Hear a variety of voices at UF -- why internationalizing extension is important and some key opportunities and challenges.
  3. Capture ideas and suggestions to strengthen internationalization efforts.

Participants

  • Hiram Larew, Director, International Programs, CSREES/USDA
  • Barbara Hughes, County Ext. Director, Seminole County, Family Consumer Sciences
  • Kristin Davis, Graduate Student, Ag. Education and Communication (Kenya)
  • Joyce Lepetu, Graduate Student, Ag. Education and Communication (Botswana)
  • Monica Brinkley, County Ext. Director, Liberty County, Family Consumer Sciences
  • Kibiby Mtenga, Graduate Student, Ag. Education and Communication (Tanzania)
  • Amy Sullivan, Graduate Student, CNRE, Interdisciplinary Ecology
  • Marta Hartmann, Ph.D., Ag. Education and Communication, Inter-cultural communication
  • Nick Place, Ph.D. Agricultural Education and Communication, Extension Education
  • Pete Vergot, Ph.D., District Director, Int. Programs Extension Liaison, Extension Administration
  • Lisette Staal, Assistant Director, International Programs

 Discussion:

What are some of the key challenges that you see?

Each participant wrote down key challenges on individual slips of paper, then, selected one of highest priority, and passed that in.  We started to discuss each of the highest priority comments in no particular order.  We were able to cover 6 comments during the time available.  The brief discussion focused on clarifying the challenge, and considering some opportunities to address the challenges. The remaining comments are listed after this section.

1)  Budget constraints (similar comments - international work gets shortchanged when budget is tight, shortage of resources, funding for faculty to gain experiences, funding for leadership and training)  Opportunties:

  • It is important to begin to identify other sources of funding by considering non-traditional areas of support (through private businesses, alumni, interest groups, others…..)
  • It is a reflection of a lack of priority.  Need to identify what and how the priorities are established and work to influence that level in the decision making process.  This links to #3, and to creatively identify was to build interest and knowledge of the benefits of international, as well as cost benefits.

 2)  Curriculum needs to reflect needs, priorities, competencies, etc. of international extension

  • Opportunities: 
    • Link academic curriculum and preparation of students directly with extension needs
    • Look to integrate internationalization and international extension by drawing on existing resources on campus, such as including international students that are professionals in their home countries.
    • Bring international experiences into the classroom, both of the faculty as well as by including field experiences.
    • Augment international extension for students
    • Increase faculty training opportunities
    • Look at curriculum holistically by integrating international into all courses rather than providing one course on international.

3)  Negative or indifferent views among extension administrators. 

  • Opportunities:
    • Look for ways to build interest in and knowledge of issues and benefits for internationalization of extension.  Perhaps at the national level of NASULGC ECOP (Extensions Administrators) get it into the ECOP plan.
    • Help to look as why it could work as a way out of the budget constraints rather than as an additional burden on the budget.  Need to come up with some information that supports this idea.

4)  Coordination of extension providers in the new pluralistic environment – who is ultimately responsible for extension?  Funding- how to pay for extension services to farmers with multiple actors doing so, including public and private. 

  • Opportunties:
    • Engage in a dialogue with collaborating institutions to address a broad range of issue related to who is responsible for programs?  Who coordinates?  How does a non-biased approach be established and maintained?
    • Encourage and draw on research addressing this issue.

5)  Getting officially recognized time release to participate in international activities

  • People are taking personal time to engage internationally.
  • Support getting information to administration and county administration regarding the benefits of participation.  Refer to #3 opportunities.

 6)  What about Family and Consumer Sciences?  It always seems to be about agriculture.

  • Recognize importance of socio-cultural dimensions and incorporate into curriculum.  Encourage “systems” approach to understanding diverse situations
  • Encourage broad participation of faculty and students addressing these issues
  • (see related questions listed below under topic:  Understanding and addressing diversity in sites and situations

Below are comments that were not able to be discussed during the meeting due to time constraints.  I have grouped the comments under seemingly similar topics that may lend themselves to further discussion.

 Limits to Participation

  • Trained extension faculty
  • Lack of expertise
  • Providing agents/researchers, instructors with the skills and knowledge in cultural competence
  • Language barrier
  • Funding for faculty to gain experiences
  • Funding for leadership and training
  • Time for faculty to spend in internationalizing
  • Overburdened faculty- state and county
  • International work not rewarded.

 Defining the Issue

  • Understanding of internationalizing
  • What do we/people understand by “internationalization of extension.”
  • Perceived negative perceptions of clientele about international work
  • People do not see the connection between domestic extension and internationalization
  • Understanding partnerships on and off campus
  • Coordination

Understanding and addressing diversity in sites and situations

  • Incorporating farmer needs into extension delivery, planning, research, policy
  • Adapting the international extension model to a local situation—e.g., to an existing institution.
  • Understanding culture when it comes to implementing internationalizing of extension
  • “One size fits all” mentality whereby many farmers/clients in the developing world are left out/behind
  • use of socio-cultural framework from an interdisciplinary and holistic approach.
  • Lack of clearly articulated goals for the agricultural sector in some developing countries (trying to hit a moving target)
  • HIV/AIDS and its effect on rural producers in Africa

 Getting international on the radar

  • Fear of foreigness/foreigners
  • Recently completed listening sessions throughout the state.  Each county office had worked with clientele and policy makers in county to discuss “issues and concerns” within the county.  Each county then took back information to Dean of Extension.  No/few? Counties mentioned international as key issue.
  • Getting local support for international work.
  • County policy
  • At county level- getting people to see the importance of international—how it affects the county- why would county pay for this?  Time away from office – why would administration support this?  Freeze on positions.
  • How can we get more support for internationalizing 4-H/youth?