Effectiveness of selected ‘advanced training programmes’ for agricultural faculty in India and implicative strategies

Abstract

The Centre for Advanced Faculty Training (CAFT) programmes aim at building the academic competency of faculty of State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) in India. There was a felt need to assess the effectiveness of these training programmes. Hence, a study was conducted during August 2012 to assess the effectiveness of selected training programmes and to draw implications for improving the programme mode in terms of pedagogy and training environment in order to enhance the academic competency of the agricultural faculty. The study was conducted with the participants (34) of two CAFT programmes through concurrent evaluation conducted at the end of the programmes. ‘Reaction’ and ‘learning’ measures of assessing training effectiveness were employed. The opinion of participants of two programmes in terms of pedagogy and training environment implied that the programmes were effective in building the academic competency of the participants. The paired-t test analysis conducted based on the results of case 1 indicated that the knowledge and skill gain of the participants were significant. The study, based on the focus-group discussion with the CAFT participants, CAFT Directors and the authority of two CAFT centres, recommends strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of CAFT programmes.