Center for Rural Extension

The Centers for Rural Extension will collaborate with citizens, non formal education practitioners, NGOs, and others, to promote excellence in rural development education and extension services that are provided by higher education institutions.  Most importantly, they will collaborate with their partner offices  (offices located at AUT, UBL, SUT, and UNS) in developing and sustaining a healthy regional network that builds lasting linkages between knowledge producers (universities) and knowledge consumers (agriculture and rural development stakeholders) in the Western Balkan region.

The Centers for Rural Extesnion will accomodate the interdisciplinary and ECTS compliant 1-year certificate program, as well as serve as the office where the modular based rural development training programs will be offered (see Obj. 1). As such, the purchase of new equipment will ensure that the newly trained specialists and professors are adequately prepared to implement exceptional courses and trainings for beneficiaries beyond the life of the project. The equipment (computers, laptops, software, projectors, and rural development literature / teaching materials) will provide beneficiaries with the most innovative and cutting edge tools being used in meeting the practical needs of rural society. The equipment will also aid in the management of both formal and non formal educational activities being implemented through the Centers.

Objective Activities Brief:

The creation and functioning of the Centers for Rural Extension (CRE) will take place from Year 1 to beyond the life of the project. In Year 1, EU experts will implement skills-based trainings for Center Directors and staff on management, professional development, and communication skills. The installation of equipment will also take place at the end of Year 1, so that these tools may be utilized during activities throughout the remainder of the project. In Year 2, the CRE will develop a website and database of experts whom can provide rural development advisory services to stakeholders. Finally, the CRE will begin to offer activities through the Center for students and adults seeking lifelong learning opportunities, including a speaker series, workshops, conferences, and the implementation of field experiments in rural areas.

Mobilities: There will be 6 skills-based trainings for Center Directors and staff from Year 1-3 (2 each year). These will be EU to Western Balkan mobilities. There will also be 2 trainings on the installation and maintanence of equipment (EU to Western Balkans).