Are current agricultural educational models suitable to meet global challenges ? Case study : Japan
2015
Asanuma, S
The farm workforce in Japan has decreased from 14 million to 2.6 million farmers over the last 50 years. Currently, older people (over 65 years) comprises of 60 per cent of the total farm workforce in Japan. This is very high compared to the total population of Japan, where this age group represents about 20 per cent of the population. Thus, food production in Japan may become threatened in near future unless the farming structure is changed or reorganized. In vocational high schools less than 15 per cent of total students study agriculture, and at universities only 2.5 per cent or 5 per cent of all students study agriculture, at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, respectively. To promote the interest of young students in the actual conditions of agriculture, it might help exposing them to on-farm management and difficulties of farmers in their vicinity. This might help them to better understand real farming problems and their potential solutions. University teachers and researchers also need to acquire and maintain sufficient practical skill suitable for teaching a practical curriculum. Nagoya University started a capacity building program for undergraduate students providing overseas study tours, while the Japanese Government supports capacity building of graduate students and young researchers via the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program. These are new initiatives designed to encourage young people to study sciences to solve farming problems
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