ODL for Agricultural Development and Rural Poverty Reduction: A Comparative Analysis of Innovation and Best Practice in Asia and the Pacific

Scott McLean
University of Calgary Continuing Education

Alexander Flor
University of the Philippines Open University

Malcolm Hazelman
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

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     Last modified: July 5, 2006
     Presentation date: 11/03/2006 10:00 AM in NT Manchester
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
Education and learning are widely recognized as essential to processes of development and poverty reduction. Given the inadequacies of conventional systems of education, training, and agricultural extension, many developing countries have introduced innovative approaches to open and distance learning (ODL).

The authors of this paper, supported byCOL, organized and analyzed five case studies from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the Pacific Islands. The primary objective of this research project was to understand and improve the application of ODL strategies to the challenges of agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. Our case study research found that successful innovation and best practice is grounded in basic principles regarding motivation, sensitivity, infrastructure, engagement of stakeholders, and soundness of pedagogical models.

Further, the keywords that appear in our case studies include: collaboration, networking, public/private partnerships, efficiency, effective use of technology for learning, practicality, accessibility, acceptability, validity of content, economics, gender sensitivity, basic education, geographic reach, and sustainability.

In our presentation to the Pan Commonwealth Forum, we will describe the common elements of successful innovation and best practice among these five institutions, and discuss the lessons learned from this project that may be generalized to other developing countries in the Commonwealth.