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Vision and Change in Biology Undergraduate Education:
Chronicling Change, Inspiring the FutureA USDA Perspective
By
Muquarrab Qureshi, DVM, M.Sc., PhD
USDA’s Education Portfolio
Spans Across Several AgenciesNIFAARSNASSERSFSAFSISFNSAPHISRDFSNRCS
COMMON THEMES
•Learning and Engagement•Trainings and Education•Internships•Capacity Building•Educational Campaigns and Outreach
National Institute of Food and Agriculture - NIFA
USDA’s principal extramural scientific
Research, Education and Extension
agency
The Morrill/Land-Grant Act
• Foundational knowledge in humanities and sciences
• Practical education in agriculture and mechanical arts
• Military leadership
Cognitive Skills
Noncognitive Skills
Our Academic Partners1862 Land Grant InstitutionsAlaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions, Insular Areas1890 Land Grant Programs1994 Land Grant Tribal ProgramsHispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
NIFA
Vision
Input Output
Lear
ning
& E
ngag
emen
t
Wor
kfor
ce
Nex
t Gen
erat
ion
of S
cien
tists
Cap
acity
Bui
ldin
g
K-20 Continuum
Target Audience
YouthStudentsEducatorsFarmersPublicGlobal Dimension
NIFA’s Formal Education Investment
2012 Annual Summary
• # of Programs: 12• # of awards made in 2012: 228
• Amount: $ 41 millionLGU Partners: 1862s = 57; 1890s = 18; 1994 = 34; HSIs = 311
(HSACUs = ~80)
So, What “Keeps USDA Awake” at night??
Employment Opportunities for College Graduatesin Agriculture and Food, 2010-2015:
Shortfalls of qualified graduates are anticipated
http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/USDA/employment/Documents/USDAEmployOp2010.pdf
Employment Opportunities for College Graduatesin Agriculture and Food, 2010-2015:
http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/USDA/employment/Documents/USDAEmployOp2010.pdf
Multiple Education Assessments and Reports
AAAS: “Vision and Change – A Call to Action”. 2009
NAS: “Universities and the Future of America: Ten Breakthrough Actions Vital to Our Nation’s Prosperity and Security”. 2012
PCAST: Report to the President: “Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates With Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics”. 2012
PCAST: “Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and The Agriculture Research Enterprise”. 2012
NSTC Committee on STEM Education: “Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education 5-Year Strategic Plan”. 2013
Human Capital Recommendations for U.S. Agriculture from PCAST
•The primary concern is support for a well-trained workforce
– Currently, the best students do not view agriculture as an attractive career option
– Relatively few graduate students enter into agricultural fields
•Industry has difficultly recruiting the technical employees for its research programs
- Often turning to foreign students and workers
•This situation must be reversed Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and the Agriculture Research Enterprise. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, December 2012.
Human Capital Recommendations for U.S. Agriculture from PCAST
• At the baccalaureate level we need comprehensive array of undergraduate programs that are
• Relevant to agriculture and the food industry
• Must remain strong and well-supported
“VISION AND CHANGE – A CALL TO ACTION”
• “Take biology out of the realm of the abstract and relate it to the real world”
AAAS Summary of Recommendations, 2009
NIFA is Outcome Driven
Translation
Discovery
Solution
Innovation
A Package Deal !!!!