AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
MRS Olive Luvai
HOD Agricultural & Community Development
Agricultural Education and Community Development is a department in the Directorate of Academic Programs.
It has three sections namely:
- Agricultural Economics
- Home Economics
- Agricultural Education and Extension.
It has a total of 20 staff of which 16 are trainers and 4 are instructors.
Our mandate
To provide quality agricultural training in the departmental courses that meet and exceed customer expectations.
Quality Objective
- To conduct training and evaluation in departmental courses
- To increase customer satisfaction
- To review and develop demand-driven curricula to meet the labour market requirements
- To increase student’s completion rate
- To generate revenue for the department
Courses offered in the department
The department offers a certificate course and 8 diploma courses that have helped to provide frontline extension officers who play key roles in various agricultural fields to boost the farmers’ skills and knowledge for increased food production. It also provides teachers for secondary schools and equips trainers with competence-based pedagogy for the implementation of training programs in TVET institutions. The following are programs in the department:
Diploma in Agricultural Extension and Community Development
A detailed course that channels out agricultural extension officers and community development officers to run the projects. To undertake this course, one requires a minimum mean grade of C- (minus) at KCSE or its equivalent or a certificate in Agriculture or in a related field from a recognized Institution.
Diploma in Agricultural Education and Extension
These are agricultural extension officers who also double up as trained teachers for agriculture and biology in secondary schools. To undertake this course, one requires a minimum mean grade of C+(Plus) at KCSE OR its equivalent with a C+ plus in biology and agriculture, C in English and C- in Mathematics.
Diploma in Agribusiness Marketing and Management
These assist farmers in entrepreneurship and running agricultural enterprises as a business. They also fit in the banking or microfinance industry to provide assistance in capital investment. To undertake this course one requires a minimum mean grade of C- (minus) at KCSE or its equivalent or a certificate in Agriculture or related field from a recognized Institution.
Diploma in Farm Management
These are farm managers with a focus on agribusiness. To undertake this course one requires a minimum mean grade of C- (minus) at KCSE or its equivalent or a certificate in Agriculture or related field from a recognized institution.
Diploma in Technical Trainer Education
These are degree holders in a specialized /skilled area who have undergone pedagogical training to enhance their delivery of competency-based training. The graduates of this course are trainers in TVET institutions. To undertake this course one requires a degree from a recognized institution in Agriculture and related subjects or any other qualification equivalent to the above from institutions recognized by Kenya National Qualifications Authority(KNQA).
Diploma in Technical Instructor Education
These are diploma holders in a specialized /skilled area who have undergone pedagogical training to enhance their delivery of competency-based training. the graduates of this course are instructors in TVET institutions. To undertake this course one requires a diploma or a higher diploma from a recognized institution in Agriculture and related subjects or any other qualification equivalent to the above from institutions recognized by Kenya National Qualifications Authority(KNQA).
Diploma in Agriculture, Human Ecology and Consumer Science
These are agricultural extension officers with a focus on value addition of agricultural products. They also double up as Nutritionists or Home economics officers. To undertake this course one requires a minimum mean grade of C- (minus) at KCSE or its equivalent or a certificate in Agriculture or a related field from a recognized Institution
Diploma in Food and Beverage
This is a TVET-CDACC course for level 6 that produces high-end caterers and entrepreneurs in the food and hotel industry with a focus on food preparation and serving. It is a skilled-based course that creates self-employment for the graduands. To undertake this course, one requires a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) C- (Minus) or Food Production Service and Sales Certificate Level 5 or Hotel Catering and Accommodation or its equivalent qualifications as determined by Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
Certificate in Fashion Design Level 5
This is an entrepreneurial course that equips trainees with competencies to provide fashion design services. It comprises of design and construction of ladies', gents and children’s garments, the design and construction of accessories and the decoration of fabrics. To undertake this course one requires a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade D (Plus) or Certificate in Fashion Design Level 4 or Equivalent qualifications as determined by Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
The department also coordinates outreach and in collaboration with other academic departments provides extension or field exposure for schools, colleges and other stakeholders on the following days:
An open day every Thursday for primary and secondary school students to visit the college for exposure to agriculture.
An open day on Friday for Colleges, universities, farmers’ groups and cooperatives and individual farmers who can visit, learn and share experiences and technical expertise on agriculture.
Achievements
The department has been able to undertake the following activities:
- Pilot the competence-based pedagogical modules for the teacher program successfully.
- Equip the AGEX Media laboratory with the help of the OKP-103470 project which has a focus on strengthening the ATVET teacher training.
- Initiate a smart classroom that will in due time be equipped by the OKP-103470 project to facilitate on line teaching .
- Worked in collaboration with EDUCAN to facilitate digital pedagogical training for trainers in BAC.
- Launch the TVET-CDACC Curricula for level 5 and 6 in fashion design and culinary arts respectively.
- Developed two competence based pedagogical programs for the technical instructor and technical trainer for level six that will be implemented in the next academic year.
- Incorporate climate smart aspects in all the programs in the department.
In conclusion, the AECD department has endeavoured to provide food security, sustainable agribusiness and entrepreneurship in a changing economy for improved livelihoods. It prides itself in being a pacesetter in the provision of TVET-CDACC courses and competence-based training in pedagogical training.
