Bachelor of Agriculture Honours in Agricultural Extension

The agricultural industry is a major sector in the South African economy in terms of meeting the increasing food demands, employment, adding value and linkages with the other sectors of the economy. The Faculty of Agriculture aims at educating learners for life and equipping them with the skills to enable them to face the challenges of a dynamic agriculture sector, with emphasis on small scale 'agriculture. In order to meet this objective, the Faculty of Agriculture, predominantly through the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, offers a programme in Agricultural Extension.

The programme in Agricultural Extension is designed to provide the learners with the analytical, reasoning and communication skills required to enter the agricultural extension profession. The education will empower learners to make critical assessments of real-life problems that are pertinent to their chosen profession. Learners completing their studies in the programme find employment in government, agribusiness, private consultancies, extension projects, education and in their own businesses.

The programme will equip learners for life-long education and skills through actively promoting a range of development activities. It will endeavour to imbue in them enthusiasm and a love for learning and research and promote independent and critical inquiry and research. Innovation, entrepreneurship and excellence will be encouraged and rewarded.

The B. Agric. Honours in Agricultural Extension offers the student a measure of specialization in Agricultural Extension and introduces him/her to research principles and methodology.

A B. Agric. degree or equivalent, or B. Agric. status where a learner may have another appropriate qualification and/or modules which together qualify him/her for the B. Agric. status. The learner must have a specialized knowledge of Agricultural Extension.

The University rules (relating to admissions) in force at the time need to be consulted.

The learner will be able to

1. Communicate effectively with peers, in a variety of modes, in the discourse of Agricultural Extension.
2. Demonstrate responsible and effective time-management and organization of projects and research, meeting personal objectives and negotiated deadlines.
3. To interact with increasing self-confidence, as a member of a team or group in a variety of discussion and problem-solving situations in a management environment.
4. Exhibit a detailed knowledge and understanding of a range of discipline specific theories, and comprehends both the interactions between Agricultural Extension and the Agricultural environment and the multidisciplinary nature of problems of farm management.
5. Demonstrate the ability to work independently in developing a deeper understanding of specified areas of the subject.
6. Manage data and information effectively, through their collection, storage, analysis, synthesis, presentation and critical evaluation, using a variety of analytical methods and techniques.
7. Exhibit the necessary skills to successfully carry out a research project of limited scope.

The learner will be able to

1. Participate in class discussions; write and present mini-seminars; prepare assignments; participate effectively in oral presentations.
2. Submit assignments and reports in an acceptable format according to clear guidelines and deadlines.
3. Participate and interact intelligently in class discussions and presentations and in practical situations.
4. Critically read, interpret and analyze literature; participate in group discussions.
5. Do independent reading and information retrieval in the library and the Internet; work with reduced supervision and show initiative.
6. Prepare assignments; improve computer literacy.

7.

• Write a project proposal, highlighting the research problem
• Identification of the research question
• Description of research methods/procedures and techniques to be followed
• Collect analyze and interpret the data
• Write the results in a clear, concise and acceptable manner

Integrated assessment procedures to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved

Through integrated assessment, learner will be required to demonstrate applied competence using a range of formative and summative assessment methods including assignments, seminars, practical reports, tests and exams. Learners will have to demonstrate that they can plan and undertake, with assistance, a research project and write up a report in an acceptable form.