The Perspectives of Higher Agricultural Education in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

Abstract

This chapter offers a perspective on how agricultural education, research, and extension services address educational challenges and foster food security and sustainability in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In the last two decades, significant progress has been made in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates regarding agricultural education infrastructure and human capital development. However, agricultural education in the GCC countries face challenges, including stagnant enrollment, the need to offer more diverse programs, and enhanced education quality to satisfy the job market demand for qualified professionals. There is a need to formulate policies and initiatives to address the challenges facing agricultural education programs, research, and agricultural extension services. Graduates of agricultural higher education institutions must be trained and learn to be capable leaders to satisfy the needs for agricultural development, achieve food security goals and sustainability, and be industry entrepreneurs.