Agriculture Education Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan for Transforming Agriculture and Natural Resources Education in Hawaii
To effectively meet the workforce needs of the Agriculture and Natural Resource Management employment sectors, we have developed a strategic plan that addresses workforce needs, builds upon existing programs, encourages greater participation by employers, and when implemented, will result in a more cohesive effort between educators and employers. The plan was developed with input from an advisory board that consisted of representatives from the private sector, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the University of Hawaii community colleges, and the Hawaii Departments of Agriculture, Labor, and Education (K–12 public schools). Implementation of the strategic plan will transform Agriculture and Natural Resource Management education in Hawaii to meet the workforce needs related to these fields.
After performing a needs assessment; a political, economic, social, and technological environment assessment; and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis; four objectives and corresponding strategic actions were developed and categorized as short term (1–3 years), medium term (3–5 years, and long term (> 5 years). These objectives, described below, are focused around four key areas, 1) public perception, 2) partnerships, 3) student preparation, and 4) articulation.
Objective #1: Create greater awareness and interest in the Agriculture and Natural Resource Management career fields and improve public perception and support.
Objective #2: Develop more effective partnerships between industry and academia. Utilize these partnerships to recruit more students into these careers and to better prepare them for these careers.
Objective #3: Improve the preparedness of students in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management programs.
Objective #4: Develop articulated academic programs for students interested in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management careers.
