Introduction
Agriculture is the principal occupation and source of livelihood of great majority of rural population of the country and it is the basic and largest component of our economy in terms of production, employment and export earnings. For agricultural development in a country like Pakistan, strong linkages amongst institution human resource development and technology transfer are very important. The technology transfer being a continuous process cannot possibly take place in a vacuum. It needs to be done in a well-organized system of agricultural extension where role of the scientist, the extension agent, and the farmer are all too important. The scientist must develop better yielding varieties and breeds of crops and animals, the extension agent must, on his part, equip himself with better and effective methods to convince the farmer about the product’s utilitarian importance. Once convinced, the farmer will certainly adopt innovations for his own economic betterment.
Allama Iqbal Open University being concerned with the educational part of the Agricultural Extension system has therefore decided to initiate master level courses in Agricultural Extension for enhancing the knowledge and skill of the extension agents/workers already working in the field.
M.Sc (Hons) Agricultural Extension Program is designed for those Agriculture Graduates who are unable to continue their Agriculture Engineering, B.Sc. Animal Husbandry, D.V.M. from formal Agricultural Universities and are now working in different departments, organizations and agencies who cannot enhance their education through formal system could benefit from AIOU offer.
OBJECTIVES:
Main objectives of the program are:
- To improve the level of knowledge and skills of the prospective students.
- To provide skills for improving diffusion and adoption ofinnovations among the farming community.
- To improve the ability and self confidence of students of Agriculture Extension to critically analyze the Agriculture Extension to critically analyze the Agriculture Extension service and technology transfer system with a view to identify difficulties, problems and issues in promoting applied research in farming systems research and extension.
To promote human resource development in agricultural extension and help to meet training needs to extension field staff and rural communities.
DURATION OF PROGRAM
The minimum duration of M.Sc ( Hons) Agricultural Extension Programs shall be two years and maximum duration shall be 8 semester ( 4 years ).
The minimum period of the 24 credit hours course work for M.Sc (Hons) Agricultural extension shall be two semesters (One Years or maximum of 4 semesters (two Years).
In case the student fails to complete the course /research work within the prescribed maximum period, she /he has to take a fresh admission in the program
COURSE WORK EVALUATION:
Distribution of continuous assessment and final examination of each 3-credit hour course work shall be as follow:
- Continuous Assessment and Mid Term 50% (20+30)
- Final Examination 50%
Total: 100%
Pass Percentage Shall be 50%
Program Coordinator: Dr Farhat Ullah Khan
Email: FARHAT_ULLAH@aiou.edu.pk
Phone No: 0519575473
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates possessing B.Sc. (Hons) Agricultural Extension degree with 2nd division.
Or
Other related discipline like B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture, Rural Sociology, animal Husbandry, DVM, B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering degree in second division are also eligible for admission in M.Sc. (Hons) Agricultural Extension, but the admission Committee may define deficiency courses for them if necessary.
Selection Process
As per AIOU MSc. (Hons)/MS/M.Phil. Rules
Teaching Methodology
Face to Face/online classes will be conducted of each semester. Attendance in the Classes will be compulsory or As per AIOU MSc. (Hons)/MS/M. Phil Rules
|
Semester |
Course Code |
Title of the Course |
Credit Hours |
|
1 |
795 |
Agri. Extension Education |
3 (3+0) |
|
2 |
796 |
Extension Program Development |
3 (3+0) |
|
3 |
2525 |
Evaluation Research |
3 (3+0) |
|
4 |
2526 |
Agricultural Extension System |
3 (3+0) |
|
Semester |
Course Code |
Title of the Course |
Credit Hours |
|
1 |
2518 |
Scientific and Technical writing in Agri. Extension |
3 (3+0) |
|
2 |
799 |
Adult Learning and Rural Development |
3 (3+0) |
|
3
|
2533 |
The Process and strategies of Communication in Agricultural Extension |
3 (3+0) |
|
4 |
1793 |
Human Resource Development |
3 (3+0) |
|
Semester |
Course Code |
Title of the Course |
Credit Hours |
|
1 |
2536 |
Thesis |
12 |
|
Semester |
Course Code |
Title of the Course |
Credit Hours |
|
1 |
2536 |
Thesis |
12 |
1
2
3
4
5
Thesis
At the beginning of the third semester, a student will be required to submit research proposal (synopsis) to the Department. The synopsis will be prepared in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Board of Advanced studies and Research (BASR). The Department will provide guidelines for developing of synopsis in the synopsis orientation workshops.
All AIOU MSc (Hons) /MS/MPhil rules will be applied on the synopsis / thesis MSc(Hons) Agricultural Extension
Viva
If the thesis is approved the external evaluators, student has to appear before viva voce committee to defend his/her thesis.
The viva voce committee will award marks as follow:
- Viva Voce 100
- Research Thesis 100
(Pass percentage in each component will be at least 50%)
Note: All Rules Regulations of AIOU /HEC framed from time to time will be applied b MSC(Hons) Agricultural Extension