A Sustainable Future – Innovation in Training for
the Agricultural Sector
The Sustainable Future project focussed on the training needs of rural producers and communities in the Central West region and developing training solutions that best meet these needs.
The research project was completed in 2003 by Orange’s Central West Community College, in partnership with the Western College of Adult Education.
The first phase of the project comprised research undertaken by the Western Research Institute into current agricultural training participation, training needs and sources of information on innovation and change for the sector.
During the second phase a computer-based financial management course and a rural entrepreneurship course were designed and delivered. They were short, targeted, relevant and related directly to farming enterprises.
The third phase of the project involved research and concluded that innovative approaches are needed for agricultural traineeships to remain viable and useful and that benchmarking offers an alternative approach to training for people in rural communities to use to improve business outcomes.
The project was completed in 2003 and recommendations covered a diverse range of issues including funding assistance for traineeships, IT skills development and innovation in the agricultural industry; communication across NSW government departments; training information dissemination; provision of career and skills development planning advice; and recognition of courses delivered by non-traditional training organisations and assistance for their harmonisation with national training system frameworks.
|
