Impact assessment of ARC-AVRDC regional training course in vegetable production and research : Part II the case of China

Survey was conducted in China in order to assess the impact of ARC-AVRDC Regional Training Course in Vegetable Production and Research. The surveyed respondents were the Chinese researchers/extension officers from 1981-1997. The results were described through frequency distribution, percentage and means. A 5-point scale was used to assess the influence of training in selected variable relating to professional growth, knowledge utilization and job productivity of the alumni to the promotion of China vegetable R and D as well as to China agricultural development. The regional training course was found to have a very positive impact on the professional growth of the alumni as indicated by its influence in motivating the alumni to seek professional advancement. A great number of alumni took post-graduate studies and became active in attending national and international workshops and seminars. The training also motivated them to accept more or expanded responsibilities in their organizations. The supervisors also rated the training to have greatly influenced the alumni in seeking professional advancement through obtaining research fellowships and form collaborative network with other researchers. The alumni also found the knowledge gained from the training to have highly helped them in making personal decisions concerning their work and increase their participation in the decision making process of the organizations. The knowledge also has given them confidence in performing the expanded responsibilities given to them. The supervisor found that the knowledge gained by the alumni was sufficient enough for the alumni to be more competent in conducting their research and extension responsibilities. The training was rated by the alumni to have highly influenced them in becoming more productive. After the training, the alumni have authored several publications, both technical and popular. They were also involved in the conduct of key research and extension programs of the country needed for the national food production programs. Other training alumni have also performed outstanding non-agricultural deeds such as becoming their provincial technical representative to the Peoples Congress. The major constraints identified by the alumni that hindered the alumni in fully utilizing the knowledge they gained included lack of research facilities, lack of scientific information and adverse climatic condition. Various suggestions were put forward on how ARC could improve the regional training. The most common ones are to revise the training schedule and to include more lectures on crop improvement and biotechnology. Tutorial on computer operation and English language were also suggested to be a part of the training courses.