Strengthening Agricultural Education and Training in sub-Saharan Africa from an Innovation Systems Perspective: A Case Study of Mozambique

Abstract

This paper examines how post-secondary agricultural education and training (AET) in sub-Saharan Africa can contribute to agricultural development by strengthening the capacity to innovate—to introduce new products and processes that are socially or economically relevant to smallholder farmers and other agents. Using the AET system in Mozambique as a case study, this paper examines the role of AET within the context of an agricultural innovation system. This innovation systems perspective offers an analytical framework to examine technological change in agriculture as a complex process of interactions among diverse actors who generate, exchange, and use knowledge, conditioned by complex social and economic institutions. The paper argues that while AET is conventionally viewed as key to the development of human capital, it also has a vital role to play in building the capacity of organizations and individuals to transmit and adapt information, products and processes, and new organizational cultures and behaviors. The paper emphasizes the importance of improving AET systems by strengthening the capabilities of organizations and professionals; changing organizational cultures, behaviors, and incentives; and building innovation networks and linkages. The paper offers several recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of AET for agricultural innovation and development. Key reforms include aligning the mandates of AET organizations with national development aspirations; inducing change in the cultures of AET organizations through the introduction of educational programs and linkages beyond the AET system; and enhancing innovative individual and organizational capacity by improving incentives to forge stronger links between AET and other stakeholders.     

Agents control in intelligent learning systems: The case of reactive characteristics

Intelligent learning systems (ILSs) have evolved in the last few years basically because of influences received from multi-agent architectures (MAs). Conflict resolution among agents has been a very important problem for multi-agent systems, with specific features in the case of ILSs. The literature shows that ILSs with cognitive or pedagogical agents are prone to arbitration methods, where as ILSs with reactive agents are much in favor of control mechanisms. For these kind of systems, different control types are proposed based on the different stimuli that these agents will receive. These stimuli are aspects to be evaluated during the teaching/learning process such as: (1) error analysis, (2) learning styles, (3) analogies, (4) social aspects, etc.

The paper reviews several ILSs, related to our work; different control mechanisms are proposed to solve the agents' intervention conflicts. Finally, the use of several mechanisms is exemplified by the results of a specific ILS.     

Less than expected—The minor role of foreign firms in upgrading domestic suppliers—The case of Vietnam

Vietnam is an important case for studying the impact of foreign firms’ backward linkages on local firms’ productivity. As an emerging economy Vietnam became the second most popular FDI destination after China in Pacific Asia since 2014. Our empirical analysis for Vietnam as a whole demonstrates a significant difference in the productivity growth between domestic suppliers who have a direct linkage with foreign firms and non-suppliers. This is also true for the Southeast Region (SE) with Ho-Chi-Minh City as economic center. However, in the Red River Delta (RRD), that difference is not statistically significant. Based on in-depth interviews with domestic suppliers, we reveal that in the RRD, effects of foreign firms on the productivity upgrading of domestic suppliers are indirect and limited while internal factors like absorptive capacity are more important for the productivity growth. These regional differences can be traced back to different regional specializations which still persist from the pre-reform era.     

Reference power values for the jump squat exercise in elite athletes: A multicenter study

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to provide reference values for lower-limb muscle power assessed during the incremental jump squat (JS) test in elite athletes (i.e., professional athletes competing at international level). We pooled data from all JS tests performed by elite athletes of different sports in two high-performance centres between 2015 and 2019, and computed reference values (i.e., terciles) for mean power (MP), mean propulsive power (MPP), and peak power (PP). Reference values were obtained from 684 elite athletes (458 male and 226 female) of 16 different sports (boxing, judo, karate, fencing, taekwondo, wrestling, basketball, soccer, futsal, handball, rugby union, badminton, tennis, long distance running, triathlon, and sprinting). Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found between male and female athletes for MP (7.47 ± 1.93 and 6.15 ± 1.68 W·Kg^?1, respectively), MPP (10.50 ± 2.75 and 8.63 ± 2.43 W·Kg^?1), and PP (23.64 ± 6.12 and 19.35 ± 5.49 W·Kg^?1). However, the velocity at which these power measures was attained seemed to be independent of sex (~0.95, 1.00 and 2.00 m·s^?1 for mean, mean propulsive, and peak velocity, respectively) and homogeneous across different sport disciplines (coefficient of variation <10%). These data can be used to classify athletes’ power capabilities, and the optimum velocity ranges provided here could be useful for training purposes.     

Between Scientific Ideas and Christian Religious Beliefs

Science & Education - Despite the importance of evolution to understand living phenomena, evolution teaching confronts several tensions, especially with respect to teachers’ and...     

Which instructional models influence more on perceived exertion,affective valence,physical activity level,and class time in physical education?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two different instructional models (i.e. direct instructional model (DIM) and tactical games model (TGM)) with primary education students. Perceived exertion, affective valence, physical activity (PA) level, instruction time, active learning time, and relation of instruction/active learning time were measured with 256 primary education students during DIM and TGM 8 weeks’ intervention programs. Significant differences were found between the DIM and TGM in perceived exertion, PA level, instruction time and in the relation between instruction/active learning time (p?<?.01, ES=?0.4 to 1.1). By age group, the DIM had significantly higher PA level in students of 3^rd grade of primary education (G3), 4^th grade (G4) and 6^th grade (G6) (p?<?.05 or p?<?.01, ES=?0.8 to ?0.4). The instructional model used during physical education classes can affect perceived exertion, PA level, instruction time, and the relation instruction/active learning time.     

Comparison between conceptions and assessment practices among secondary education teachers: more differences than similarities (Comparación entre concepciones y prácticas de evaluación en profesores de Educación Secundaria: más diferencias que semejanzas)

ABSTRACT

Teachers’ conceptions can affect any teaching practice, including assessment. Compared with the previous learning stages in Spain, the accreditation-based focus increases in secondary education. Therefore, it is necessary to study the conceptions teachers have of assessment during this stage and the role these play in their teaching practices. The study participants comprised 219 secondary education teachers. A mixed methodology including a questionnaire, dilemmas and the analysis of test contents was used. An analysis was implemented of the relationship between the conceptions of assessment and the type of tests used, self-assessment and peer assessment, and characteristics of feedback. The teachers reported having a formative conception, but this was incoherent with their assessment methods characterized by a scarce use of self-assessment and peer assessment and a hardly formative feedback. In conclusion, we highlight the relevance of the teaching-related conceptions in the education system and the need for working jointly with teachers to implement an authentically formative assessment in the classroom, with an emphasis on consistency between conceptions and practices.