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INVESTIGATOR: Moore, P. D.; Buckner, E. R.; Garner, J. O.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
UNIV OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71601

FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA TO THE NIGER DELTA: STRENGTHENING TEACHING AND EXTENSION CAPACITY AT UAPB TO ENHANCE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This project is designed to operationalize Institutional Imperative Six, Diversify and Globalize the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, as stated in the university's Keepers of the Spirit 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. Project objectives are: 1) to establish a cross-disciplinary working group to engage in scholarly and experiential learning activities that focus on global trends and developments impacting the agriculture sector and rural communities in river basin regions; 2) to establish a faculty-led study abroad program emphasizing food and agricultural sciences; and 3) to establish a sustainable international extension program through the formation of working partnerships, execution of memoranda of understanding and funding/technical assistance for a comprehensive, multistakeholder rural development project in the Niger Basis of West Africa. The project takes into account three important trends impacting UAPB and its School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences: 1) state government's increasing demand for accountability and performance in the higher education sector; 2) the continually evolving and complex alchemy of race, geography and economic disparity within the Arkansas and broader Delta region; and 3) the globalization of the national and regional economies and the implications for the agriculture sector and land-grant institutions. Successful attainment of project objectives will result in a more responsive and competitive institution in a changing regional and global context.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this project is to enhance international programming at UAPB through enhanced teaching and extension capacity. This shall be accomplished through three objectives: 1) to establish a cross-disciplinary working group reflective of the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences as well as other Schools on campus; 2) to establish a faculty-led study abroad program; and 3) to lay the foundation for a sustainable international extension program through the establishment of working partnerships, execution of memoranda of understanding, funding for a comprehensive rural development project and targeted technical assistance to overseas partners. Key milestones for year one include: staff hiring, refinement and initiation of evaluation plan, establishment of cross-disciplinary working group, overseas needs assessment exercise, formation of overseas working group, development of faculty-led study abroad protocol, overseas partners visit to UAPB and cross-cultural/experiential learning Arkansas Delta study tour. Key milestones for year two include: on-going monitoring and assessment, working group seminars/meetings,implementation of faculty development plans, competitive selection of faculty led study abroad projects, execution of MOUs with overseas partners, selection/refinement of rural development project through consultative project and commencement of overseas technical assistance. Year three key milestones include: on-going project assessment, working group seminars/meetings, implementation of faculty development plans, faculty led study abroad programs, pilot implementation of rural development project, on-going technical assistance and comprehensive program evaluation. Anticipated outputs by objectives are:1)knowledge production(theoretical and practical), networking opportunities, cross-fertilization of ideas and new relationships; 2) knowledge production, study abroad protocol, formation of faculty-led study abroad interest group, new skills in study abroad program management; and 3) new global partners,skills in cross-cultural project management, university linkages protocol.