Statement of Purpose
This proposal is unique in that it brings representatives of local government and graduate students together with county extension faculty to explore international extension. The following statements develop the purpose and topics to be discussed during the international extension professional development program and institutional building.
- International development programs; What are some of the current issues in international development? What are the different goals and programs of agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations, and various private voluntary organizations such as Partners of the Americas? How is Extension and University of Florida involved with these organizations?
- Extension in the world; How do Extension Services in other countries differ from those in the U.S.? What is Extension’s role in working with these other systems? How can we in Florida benefit from the experience of other countries? What can we learn from one another that will strengthen each other’s extension system and programs?
- Designing international extension programs; What should be considered in designing International Extension Programs? How do we integrate an international dimension into ongoing extension programs? How can we learn what local systems need and what resources they have? What are some of the challenges and dangers in transferring technologies and techniques from one culture to another? How can interactions between two cultures benefit each?
- Sustainable development; What is meant by sustainability? What do agriculture, environmental, human development, and business development efforts have in common? What lessons abroad can be applied in Florida?
- Living and working in another culture; How might the expectations of Extension counterparts and clientele in another culture be different from our own? What might it be like to live and work in another culture? How will spouses and children fit in? How can what we’ve learned internationally be helpful in working with different cultural groups in our own counties?
- Developing international programs at the county level; How can the experiences of the training program be useful at the county level? Why is local international programming important? What resources are available to help develop international programs?
- Clarification of the goals and purposes of University of Florida IFAS Extensions’ involvement in international activities; The interdependence of industrialized, developing, and newly industrialized countries in the global economy; issues of marketing, market development, international trade policy; issues of technology transfer and appropriate technology; and the role of U.S. professions, institutions in foreign assistance/development cooperation programs.