RDEV40720 Project Mngt in Ag Extension

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module is a Level 4 module and is an optional module for the Masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation (D50) where students are working in an agricultural or rural development advisory role. It may be available as an optional module to other postgraduate programmes on a case by case basis.

This module uses a combination of theory and skills development to enable and support the student to understand the nature and functions of project management as it pertains to agricultural and rural development well as the different approaches that are suitable to project planning. It aims to build competence for managing agricultural extension and rural development projects using participatory approaches to problem analysis, needs assessment and project design; work planning and budgeting; and fundamentals of project monitoring and evaluation. Students will also gain an appreciation of collaborative projects such as European Innovation Partnerships and will develop skills for writing project proposals and conducting project appraisals.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to:
• Appreciate the importance of project management and associated functions in the context of agricultural and rural development whether publicly or privately funded and collaborative projects
• Consider the appropriateness of different project management approaches for different scenarios in agricultural and rural development
• Understand how the project planning cycle and the project logic model are central to agricultural extension planning
• Appreciate the importance of engaging farmers and other stakeholders in project planning and know a range of participatory methods for problem / needs analysis and project appraisal as well as monitoring and evaluation
• Be able to write a project proposal for submission to a funding agency

Indicative Module Content:

Theories of Change in planning and evaluating agricultural and rural development initiatives
Participatory approaches to development planning
Alliances for agriculture and rural development planning
The project planning cycle - appraisal, needs assessment, strategy, planning, monitoring and evaluation

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

8
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

120
Total

178
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students will learn through collaborative and task based approaches using real life situations. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Reflection on the use of project management methods and tools Week 12 n/a Graded No

20
Group Project: Problem analysis and development of a theory of change Week 5 n/a Graded No

40
Group Project: Project Concept, Log Frame, and Budget
Review of other proposals		 Week 10 n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor James Kinsella Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tomás Russell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: Even Weeks Tues 17:00 - 18:50