Better Farming - November 2016

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Better Farming November 2016 FarmNews First > 19
that underpin the knowledge and
understanding of the occupation.
“It’s never been done for agricul-
ture,” Hauer said. “We are developing
standards for about 40 roles. So now
people will know what they have to
know to become a livestock producer
or an apple grower.”
These standards should help
educational institutions design
training programs.
“With these standards, educational
institutions can do curriculum
mapping. They match their curricu-
lum against the occupational stan-
dard to determine (the) gaps.”
Keeping curriculum current is a
constant challenge at OAC.
“We’ve increasingly provided
opportunities for travel and experien-
tial learning, and then there’s the job
of creating new programs,” said Van
Acker. “For example, we are in the
midst of developing a program that
concerns itself with food-industry
management training.”
“The good news for students is
whatever their interest might be, they
can probably find a place in the food
and agriculture sector,” he said.
To encourage more enrolment in
agriculture programs, the OAC has
set up a liaison program, funded by
the University of Guelph’s alumni and
various agri-businesses.
“It works with high schools in
Ontario to provide special learning
opportunities. It’s a way to get them
on campus, for one,” he said. “They
(the students) like the Guelph
campus, and that plants the seed.
We’ve been getting students from this
program and our enrolments have
been rising.”
Van Acker also believes the biggest
problem is getting the word out to
young people who are looking at
careers.
“Part of it is the invisibility of the
agriculture sector. If they’re not famil-
iar with the field, they may think it’s
farming. They wouldn’t know there’s a
very large sector supporting primary
producers. Then there’s the food
side—that’s an even bigger sector—
but because it’s so diversified, it’s
somewhat invisible as well.”
He believes the college is getting
the message out. “The majority of
students enrolling in our core agricul-
tural program, which is a Bachelor of
Science in Agriculture, are from
urban postal codes,” he said. BF
AGRI-FOODJOBS
University of Guelph photo
To keep their curriculum
current, the OAC encourages
hands-on learning on farm
sites.