Facilitating conditions for farmer learning behaviour in the student-to-farmer university outreach

A Review of Social Learning as a Function of Student-centered Outreach in African Universities

“…This earlier conceptualization of social learning shows the existence of feedback mechanism between learners and their environment. That is, learners change the environment and at the same the environment influences their learning behavior (Pahl-Wostl et al, 2008) To-date, the concept of learning has also been extended to S-C-O through the analysis of farmer learning behaviors (Karubanga et al, 2017;Kalule et al, 2019b) however, with limited attention on how such behaviours are influenced by social learning processes. For instance, Kalule et al (2019), in their study on contextual determinants of learning behavior differentials amongst host farmers of the University-Student Outreach in Uganda describe four main farmer learning behaviors indicators as reported by Edmondson (1999).…”

“…Thus, an assessment of social interaction between students, staff, famers and other actors in S-C-O can provide greater opportunities for social learning. In a nutshell, the kind of interactions in the S-C-O model can provide a platform for advancing new forms of collaborative learning that foster grassroots innovation (Grobbelaar et al, 2017;Kalule et al, 2019b).…”

“…A review indicates that it is worth noting that one's participation in a community of practice, in this case S-C-O programme is an incremental process where one moves from peripheral participant to an active participant in a given community of practice by developing certain levels of competence (Farnsworth et al, 2016) which are acquired through social learning. Reviewed literature indicated that within the S-C-O model, farmers are expected to develop a community as a result of their interaction with students (Kalule et al, 2019b). Hosting the students, for example, as individuals and groups of farmers is reported to have the ability of shaping their sense of belonging in the process of fostering farmer learning (Erickson, 2010;Kalule et al, 2019;Preece, 2013).…”

“…This time period is critical for enhanced knowledge flow through interactions that lead to acquisition of new skills and experiences as a result of social learning and sharing of experiences between students and communities (Kalule et al, 2014;Nampala et al, 2016). The model has been updated to encompass attachment in a range of 60Km after the introduction of postgraduate programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture in 2014 (Kalule et al, 2019b). This provides a better opportunity for assessing whether S-C-O enhances social learning among the widely geographically distributed farmers.…”

Farmer-preferred learning methods and utilised teaching approaches by Egerton University, Kenya

“…Community outreach is, therefore, essential for agriculturebased universities to contribute towards national development and attainment of the global development frameworks. Through outreach programmes, agriculture-based universities can, and do transform farmer knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and practices for improved livelihoods and well being (Kalule et al, 2019).…”