Three Ukrainians made a two-day visit to the LSU AgCenter Jan. 15-16 to learn about student recruitment and the extension outreach program. From left are Leonid Sereda, honorary president of Vinnitsa State Agricultural University; Olena Prutska, head of the finance department; and Lyudmyla Sereda, vice president for international affairs. At right is Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. Photo by Olivia McClure News Release Distributed 01/21/14
BATON ROUGE, La. – A delegation from Vinnitsa State Agricultural University in Ukraine visited Baton Rouge Jan. 15-17 to learn how the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture work together to recruit undergraduate and graduate students and prepare them for graduate programs and the workforce.
Susan Karimiha, assistant program coordinator for LSU AgCenter International Programs, said the group has a long-term relationship with the LSU AgCenter. Between September 1998 and February 2005, the AgCenter partnered with them on two USAID projects.
The AgCenter and its Ukrainian partners provided an educational outreach system to assist privatized farmers. The project developed a Center for Private Farmer Training and Outreach in three provinces, which helped develop legislation authorizing extension services.
Karimiha said the group was interested in seeing how LSU undergraduate students become involved in research and extension through the AgCenter, which provides them a taste of opportunities available in graduate school. The visitors from VSAU included Head of Finance Department Olena Prutska, Honorary University President Leonid Sereda and Vice President for International Affairs Lyudmyla Sereda.
The group met with AgCenter and College of Agriculture administrators and toured departments and research stations. They also visited Tiger Stadium.
"They want to learn how the AgCenter and College of Agriculture combine research, extension and teaching," Karimiha said. "They want to learn how we do things here compared to their own country and build on our existing relationship."
During their meetings, department heads and graduate coordinators explained the AgCenter and College of Agriculture's approach to education and answered the Ukrainians' questions about curricula, degree programs, internships, study abroad opportunities and evaluation procedures. Other discussions centered on student involvement in various aspects of the university and campus life, the management structure of LSU, intellectual property and sources of financing.
The visitors also wanted to learn about how the AgCenter's research is transferred to the public through extension offices across Louisiana, Karimiha said. They discussed training for agricultural specialists and the AgCenter model for improving lives by using science-based information and offering practical education on a variety of topics.
Olivia McClure