Opportunities for Extension Professionals in International Education

Abstract

There are numerous opportunities for international colleagues, bound by a common thread, to share in the exchange of information. Numerous organizations support agricultural based projects overseas with a major source of funding originating from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) via the US Farm Bill. These programs rely on the expertise of volunteers from US farms, land-grant universities, cooperatives, private agribusinesses, and nonprofit farm organizations to provide assistance to individual farm enterprises, cooperatives, farmer's associations, agribusinesses, rural credit institutions, universities, and agricultural youth groups overseas. Commodity groups such as the American Soybean Association (ASA) and US Grains Council (USGC) also recruit experts that are involved with technical programs that teach livestock and poultry producers how to use feed grains effectively and manage operations efficiently. The Fulbright Scholar Program administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) offers opportunities for international educational exchange. The primary mission of extension is to “take the university to the people.” Whether the scope is local, regional, national, or international, the essence of extension supports key projects, which may include the building of partnerships, improvement of business practices, increasing productivity and profitability, and introducing new technologies. In addition, opportunities for scientific exchange contribute to an increased understanding of history, culture, politics, and social structure.