University College Dublin

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)
The Masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to be effective in building the capacity of farmers / food producers to adopt new practices and technologies.

The programme aims to prepare graduates for future roles in advisory services, agricultural sales, agricultural media, agri-tech companies, consultancy and education delivery as well as providing opportunities for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for agricultural science and other graduates who are already working in areas of knowledge transfer with farmers.
• Develop competencies in analysis of the context of agricultural change; design and development of appropriate advisory strategies to support agricultural development
• Equip graduates on how to support adult learning and behaviour change with research and analytical skills to identify and support worthwhile innovations.
• The programme includes the option to take an industry placement as part of the minor thesis. Students have taken their placements with international advisory services and technology companies including AHDB and Microsoft

The Masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation (available both part and full time) aims to build competencies in agricultural advisory and educational services and systems that can support and enable learning and behaviour change at farm level, so that farm households can innovate and build sustainable livelihoods in a context of changing agricultural policy and market forces. The programme prepares Agricultural Science graduates for future roles in advisory services, technical consultancy and education delivery as well as providing opportunities for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for agricultural science and other graduates who are already working in areas of knowledge transfer with farmers. The programme equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to develop and deliver appropriate agricultural advisory and educational programmes that serve the needs of farmers and farm families who are their clients. The programme emphasises and values group work, problem solving and creative thinking and encourages students to be active, self-directed and reflective learners. Assignments are based on real life case studies that are complex and unpredictable, reflecting the norms of practice in advisory and education services.

Programme outcomes:
• Demonstrate a specialized understanding of the agricultural knowledge and innovation system and in particular the synergy between research, extension and education as policy instruments in the context of agricultural change;
• Demonstrate an empathy and understanding of the interplay between economic, social, cultural, and psychological factors that affect farm household decision making and the ability to use this understanding to formulate appropriate responses to clients in different circumstances;
• Design and develop appropriate advisory and educational strategies to support agricultural development;
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to support adult learning and behavior change;
• Apply research and analytical skills required to identify and support worthwhile innovations
• Be competent to facilitate processes of knowledge transfer and knowledge exchange in support of client livelihoods;
• Be committed to ongoing reflective practice and professional development
• Apply research and analytical skills required to identify and support worthwhile innovations
• Be committed to ongoing reflective practice and professional development
• Be competent to facilitate processes of knowledge transfer and knowledge exchange in support of client livelihoods
• Demonstrate a specialized understanding of the agricultural knowledge and innovation system and in particular the synergy between research, extension and education as policy instruments in the context of agricultural change
• Demonstrate an empathy and understanding of the interplay between economic, social, cultural, and psychological factors that affect farm household decision making and the ability to use this understanding to formulate appropriate responses to clients in different circumstances
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to support adult learning and behaviour change
• Design and develop appropriate advisory and educational strategies to support agricultural development.