University: 
Guelph University
Location: 
Guelph, Canada
Department: 
School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD)
Programme/Course: 
Master of Science in Capacity Development and Extension

Background Information:

The mission of the Capacity Development and Extension programme is to enhance the quality of life of rural people and communities, acknowledge and respect a diversity of needs and perspectives, through the provision of educational opportunities, interdisciplinary research, and community outreach.

The programme aims to:

  • provide a learner-centred learning community which is grounded in practice-based theories as they relate to rural extension processes and communication technology.
  • promote independent and interdependent learning among program participants
  • provide opportunities for learners to explore a variety of approaches to research and methods so that they will be able to make informed choices of appropriate research methods and techniques.
  • provide an environment in which issues of social justice, as they relate to rural extension studies, can be discussed in an open manner, acknowledging and respecting at all times the diversity of perspectives on these issues.

The Capacity Development and Extension Programs, together with the Rural Planning and Development Programs and the Landscape Architecture Programs form the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development. Each school has its own unique focus and together they represent a strong advocate for rural concerns and study.

Click here for more information.

Overview of Programme/Course: 

Capacity Development and Extension (CDE) offers a professionally oriented programme leading to the MSc degree. The programme covers a broad range of topics including rural extension theory, adult learning and development, capacity development, interpersonal communication, communication technology and international extension. 

Teaching Process: 

CDE is a learner-centered community, grounded in practice-based theories. CDE values social justice through shared decision-making, open communication, respect for difference, and commitment to conflict management. The programme seeks to pursue creative and independent thought in their intellectual pursuits.

A variety of learning formats are offered by the programme including independent study, seminars, a practicum, international courses, and research colloquia.

Courses and Curriculum: 

The completion of the CDE MSc programme requires three core courses (* below) plus an additional five courses for a Major Research Paper or three courses for a Thesis. Full-time students typically complete 3-4 courses per semester.

The Capacity Development and Extension Masters curriculum focuses on:

  • Historical, philosophical and sociological foundations of capacity building*
  • Research design*
  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods*
  • Communication for Social and Environmental Change
  • Community Environmental Leadership
  • Community Engagement and Public Participation
  • Extension theory and methods
  • Adult learning and development
  • Facilitation and conflict management
  • Capacity building and sustainable development
  • Decision making and conflict
  • Programme evaluation

Students will often create their own reading or action-oriented courses in areas such as community media, gender studies, children, youth and development, project management, implementation analysis, innovation systems theory and practice, action learning, environmental education, etc.

In addition to course work, students write a thesis or major research paper on a topic approved by his/her Advisory Committee. The THESIS option requires that students complete six courses (three core courses, plus two restricted electives, plus one open elective), in addition to the thesis. The MAJOR PAPER option requires that students complete eight courses (three core courses, plus four restricted electives, plus one open elective), in addition to the major research paper.

Click here for more detail on the courses.

Core Teaching Materials: 

Freire, P. (2002). Chapter 2. In P. Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 30th Anniversary Edition, M.B. Ramos, (Trans.), (pp. 71-86). New York: Continuum.
Handley, Karen, Andrew Sturdy, Robin Fincham, and Timothy Clark (2006). "Within and Beyond Communities of Practice: Making Sense of Learning Through Participation, Identity and Practice." Journal of Management Studies 43:641-653.
Klerkx L.aurens W. Andy Hall and Cees Leeuwis (2009). Strengthening agricultural innovation capacity: Are innovation brokers the answer? International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology 8(5/6): 409–438.
Lauzon, A.C. (2005) Extension and Rural Learning. In International Encyclopedia of Adult Education. L. English (ed), Palgrave MacMillan.
Leeuwis, Cees and Noelle Aarts (2011) Rethinking Communication in Innovation Processes: Creating Space for Change in Complex Systems, The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 17:1, 21-36
Mulder, Martin (2001). "Competence development - some background thoughts." The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 7:147-158
Peschi, M.F. (2007). Triple Loop Learning as Foundation for Profound Change, Individual Cultivation and Radical Innovation. Constructivist Foundations. 2(2-3):136-145.
Reason, Peter (2002). “Justice, Sustainability, and Participation.” Concepts and Transformations 7 (1): 7-29.
Ubels, Jan, Naa-Aku Acquaye-Baddoo and Alan Fowler. (2010). Chapter 1. In Capacity Development in Practice, Edited By, London: Earthscan.
Wenger, Etienne C., and William M. Snyder (2000). Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier. Harvard Business Review January-February 2000.
Wilkins, Karin Gwinn, Thomas Tufte and Rafael Obregon (2014) Handbook of development communication and social change. Wiley. New York.
Wilkins, Karin Gwinn and Florencia Engel, eds. (2012). Nordicom Review Special Issue, 33.

Faculty Publications: 

Click here for publications by Associate Professor, Helen Hambly Odame.

Click here for publications by Acting Director and Professor, Al Lauzon.

Projects: 

The faculty and students are involved in a number of research and outreach projects in Canada and other countries around the world such as:  Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Bolivia, Brazil, India, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, Senegal and Cameroon. Projects in these countries have looked at rural quality of life, agricultural extension practices, communication technology (including Internet connectivity) and distance education programmes. Click here for more information (and select the "Community Outreach" option on the right menu bar).

Academic Staff: 

Key academic staff related to this Masters Degree are:

Helen Hambly Odame, Associate Professor
She joined SEDRD - Capacity Development and Extension in September 2003. She has more than 20 years of experience in international research and development programmes in Africa, North Africa and Latin America. She came to the University of Guelph after 8 years as a research and training officer with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Helen has also worked with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the non-governmental sector in Canada. Helen is the Capacity Development and Extension Graduate Coordinator.
Click here for more information about Helen Hambly Odame.

Al Lauzon, Acting Director, SEDRD and Professor
Al Lauzon is currently a professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development. Al has degrees in psychology, extension education, and adult education and community development. He teaches in the Capacity Development and Extension MSc programme and also teaches in and is the Coordinator of the Capacity Development and Extension master's programme and the Rural Studies PhD programme. Click here for more information about Al Lauzon.

Ricardo Ramirez, Adjunct Faculty

Ricardo Ramirez's work in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) emphasises participatory action research. He has worked with communication as a component of rural and remote development projects with NGOs, universities, consulting firms, and the United Nations. He was associate professor of Capacity Development and Extension in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development where he remains as adjunct professor.  Click here for more information about Ricardo Ramirez.

Source: 

Guelph University website and information received from Helen Hambly Odame in March 2016.