CGI AR I CT-KM Support for the Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics (VASAT) Final Report Presented by I nternational Crops Research I nstitute for the Semi-Arid Topics In association with I nternational Livestock Research I nstitute, South Asia Office I nternational Water Management I nstitute, South Asia Office Patancheru PO 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India March 2007 Summary of Progress: April-December 2006 Outputs and Milestones since last report (Period covered: April-December 2006): The project was granted a no-cost extension up to December 2006 to facilitate conduct of the ICRISAT –commissioned external review. • Second Annual Report covering the period up to March 2006 submitted in April 2006. • Impact assessment in relation to the research-extension linkages on this project carried out during June-August 2006; an external expert carried out the assessment and presented a report. • One consultation with NARES partners on emerging new approaches to research-extension linkages held in June 2006; a detailed report on VASAT field activities and their linkages with local extension prepared (received the best paper award in the annual meeting of the Indian Society for Extension, December 2006). • ICRISAT commissioned external review for Knowledge Management and Sharing program conducted an assessment of VASAT activities and recommended its expansion to other regions with second generation trials (November 2006). • Final report comprising the two reports above, and a technical report for the period up to December 2006 prepared. VASAT Report: April –December 2006 Summary I n the following pages, a concise report on activities on the VASAT project during 2005-06 is provided. The project objectives are: 1. Build and facilitate a consortium of Communities of Practice in drought coping and mitigation using the expertise of CG centers, particularly those submitting this proposal. 2. Develop non-formal instructional material and corresponding courseware for drought coping and mitigation. 3. Pilot a repository of learning objects relevant to the sector and develop a model for their transformation into learning materials. 4. Design and test an I CT-based knowledge and information exchange model that links rural families and their organizations w ith international/ national centers of excellence in combating drought and desertification; assess the sustainability factors. 5. Assess the impact of knowledge sharing on the capacity of rural families to cope better with drought and desertification; and study the impact on agricultural extension. 6. Evolve a common approach, with relevant CG I CT-KM projects, especially the CG-OLR, to promote virtual learning in agriculture. Activities in the reporting period were designed to fulfill these objectives, with a focus on assessing the impact and sustainability of a technology-mediated system for rural information services. Two reports, one on the impact of the I CT- based rural hub operations on the extension processes in the area in South Central I ndia, and another on the usefulness of the extension linkages mediated by the I CT, were prepared, discussed and made available in the public domain. The VASAT web site was re-organised to allow for learning resources online to be accessed granularly, rather than as packages. The engagement and dialogue with NARES partners continued vigorously over this period. Two of the CSO partners were invited to present their collaborative work with this project at the CSO- CGI AR Forum during the AGM06. The framework for generating and maintaining linkages between agricultural research-education and extension has been accepted by the National Agricultural I nnovation Project of I ndia as the framework for its own investment in KM in I ndian agriculture. The Center Commissioned External Review of I CRI SAT’s KMS program has advised the center management to develop a more comprehensive VASAT program through second generation trials over more agro-eco-regions. 2 From VASAT: Second Annual Report 2005-2006 Progress of Project Activities Measured Against the Original Timelines Proposed First Annual Report: Submitted E-Training for ODL Partners: Carried out for four agricultural universities ODL Workshops: Jointly with E-training activities; report attached E-Training for Extensionists: Training courses organized at the rural hub Extension workshop: Conducted for the newly inducted rural leaders of the National Virtual Academy; multiple stakeholders joined in. Report on rural hubs: Attached LO Repository Consultation: Senior Directors, Deans and Vice-Chancellors participated in the Consultation; organized with the COL. LO Repository Report: Joint activity with the CG-OLR project; report Attached Trials on Rapid production: Continuing, using two LMS NARES hub management training: Organized in combination with the extension workshops Second Annual Report: Attached I Significant outputs of VASAT Project during 2005-06 : (Relates to Monitoring and Evaluation Planning Worksheet for VASAT) • ODL workshop was organized; domain experts in agri and vet sciences were engaged in a week-long workshop and exposed to design and development of content for e-learning and learning content management systems. • Addakal Hub has been strengthened; new capacity strengthening processes in relation to extension have been put on stream; a new infrastructure for video conferencing has been donated by two national agencies; the women volunteers in Addakal on this project have been honored with the Fellowship of the National Virtual Academy by the President of India • New Partnerships Developed; with the well-known Indian Institutes of Technology System, in applying GIS at a micro-level, in the use of semantic web technologies and in the use of weather sensors; also with Microsoft Community Affairs to extend the hub operations. • A roundtable consultation involving senior directors of outreach programs, deans and vice-chancellors of agri and vet universities was held for Setting Up Online Grids of Educational and Extension Materials and for Capacity Strengthening in February 2006; the universities agreed to pursue this by committing their time and resources. A pilot learning program on drought awareness in Maharashtra organized with a new, non-traditional partner (MKCL) had nearly 30000 registrants over six months. • VASAT materials along with a significant volume of online materials were contributed to the CG-OLR repository. • The functional arrangement for inter-center coordination is in place; VASAT actors in different CG centers met regularly on a monthly basis. • NARES partnership strengthened by ensuring their participation in rural hubs work and farmer interaction involving new tools such as the Internet and videoconferencing. • A number of invited presentations were made in national and international meetings; young scholars presented some of these. II From VASAT: First Annual Report 2004-2005 Progress of Project Activities Measured Against the Original Timelines Proposed Coalition Consultation: Carried out in Asia during 28-29 June 2004 Recruitment: Completed in July 2004; manager for Asia joined later in October 04 (procedural delay in availing deputation) WG (on content and coordination) operationalised: regular monthly meetings among participating centers taking place; content modules numbering 15 have been created and validated; SC meeting: held on 28th June 2004 in Patancheru I dentify two hubs: completed by August 2004; Kahe in Niger, West Africa, launched in September 04; Addakal in AP State, India, is operational; new hub in Gabi, Niger, started up in Jan. 2005. First RRA Report: RRA carried out in Kahe and consultation meeting held in July 2004 Modules designed: ongoing activity; 15 modules already designed and made available online Rural Onsite Training: Elaborate training took place in Addakal in India during Oct-Dec 04. Hub manager recognized nationally. Training ongoing in Kahe, Niger. R-I CT components installed: Addakal has expanded services to three more villages; basic IT infrastructure in place; PC and basic power equipment installed in Kahe and satellite radio system activated. CMS design and testing: started in July 04 and is in an advanced stage now; Sun platform is in use; one major peer reviewed publication; all modules loaded for creating learning objects. i WG on Evaluation: work commenced with graduate level training; new links with ICRISAT Theme on markets approved by ICRISAT. Second RRA: ongoing in India; report under preparation Meta-material addition: ongoing process with 15 modules. First Annual report: Attached. ii Significant outputs of VASAT Project during 2004-05: (Relates to Monitoring and Evaluation Planning Worksheet for VASAT) • SC meeting was held; valuable suggestions, especially in positioning VASAT as a provider of downstream adaptable material on drought related topics. (June 29, 2004) • Two workshops with ICT4D and ODL experts: Asian regional workshop organized in June 2004; new partners in both these sectors gained; another one to take place in second half of 2005, focusing more on extension and outreach. • One workshop with extension experts: held in association with the Commonwealth of Learning in Jan 05. An informal network of five agricultural universities in India formed; VASAT will provide expert advice on ICT-mediation in extension education (non-degree programs); workshop planned in July 05 (see above). • Trial of novel CMS for LO’s: Commenced in July 04 and is in an advanced stage; one peer reviewed publication in Feb 05;