Current trends in post-graduate education at Wageningen Agricultural University: innovation, organization and internationalization

Abstract

Abstract The origin of agricultural knowledge innovation systems in the Netherlands goes back to the crisis situation in European agriculture of the late nineteenth century, which was met by putting a concerted effort in strengthening of competitive ability. The resulting close-knit evolution of the triad research/extension/training has largely determined the orientation of the present agricultural education and research system. Strengths and weaknesses of this system are listed and briefly discussed. Post-graduate agricultural education in the Netherlands, concentrated at Wageningen Agricultural University, is in state of transition in the two following, inter-related aspects: 1.Internationalization. After many generations of Wageningen graduates have experienced the benefit of an international element in their training through a practical period abroad, organizational adjustments to a more comprehensive, ‘two-way’ internationalization (i.e., also providing access to foreign students) are now underway. 2.Structuring a post-graduate curriculum. Important in this context are the recent institutionalization of research activities in areas of acknowledged strength into a number of ‘Centres of Excellence’ (onderzoekscholen) and initial moves towards establishment of graduate schools.