Organic agriculture education in Thai Universities: National trends and student perceptions

International Conference on Organic Agriculture in the Tropics: State of the Art, Challenges and Opportunities

Visetnoi, S.^1 ; Nelles, W.^2

Chulalongkorn University School of Agricultural Resources (CUSAR), Bangkok, Thailand^1

Canadian Visiting Scholar, CUSAR, Thailand^2

关键词: Environmental pollutions;    Food contamination;    Higher education institutions (HEIs);    Limited attentions;    Organic agriculture;    Resources depletion;    Student perceptions;    Undergraduate students;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/215/1/012024/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1755-1315/215/1/012024

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

Since the 1950s Green Revolution "conventional" agrochemical-dependent farming has grown substantially in Thailand. Adverse impacts have been natural resources depletion, environmental pollution, deforestation, food contamination and public health concerns. Thai higher education institutions (HEIs) have contributed to problems, promoting agrochemical-dependent farming with limited attention to organic agriculture (OA). Our paper examines how Thai HEIs incorporate OA into curricula and extension services, and how students perceive the value and adequacy of OA courses and training. It reviews policy and syllabus documents among 49 HEIs. Our analysis suggests most universities still do not view OA as a priority. Second, we examine student and graduate perceptions to illustrate national challenges. A survey of senior undergraduate students and recent alumni in one HEI showed both groups believed they did not have sufficient lectures or courses in OA or adequate resources and training to pursue an OA-related career after graduation. Current students viewed inadequacies even greater. Our conclusions suggest Thai HEIs must do more to reform programs, improve OA curricula and better support graduates. More research is needed to gather detailed and refined information from university agriculture education program administrators and documents with more qualitative and quantitative data on students from other Thai Universities.