Department of Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer

Historical Overview

The history of agricultural extension education in the College of Agriculture / University of Baghdad dates back to the date of the founding of the college in 1952, as its curricula contained educational and extension lessons. In 1957-1958, the Department of General Agriculture was formed in the college, in addition to the two departments that had been operating since the establishment of the college (plant production and animal production). Where the new department taught economic, educational, and social extension lessons, and the first bachelor’s students graduated in July 1959, as the specialization began in the third stage, and at the beginning of the sixties, specifically in 1961-1962, the foundations of the Department of Economics and Agricultural Education was found, and the study of extension remained within the Department of Economics and Agricultural Education until the year 1971-1972. And in 1972-1973, A branch of the agricultural extension was established within the Department of Plant Production in the college, and in 1973-1974, the department began granting a bachelor’s degree as the specialization at that time was in the third stage. In 1976-1977, the agricultural teachers department was created with two branches (Agricultural Teachers and Agricultural Extension) and it remained like this until 1987-1988 when the name of the department was changed to Department of Extension and Agricultural Education, and it remained so until 2010, and after this period, its name was changed to the Department of Extension and Transfer of Agricultural Technologies.

Vision, Message and Objectives

Vision:

“Contribution in the Achievement of Sustainable Rural Development”

Message:

Our department aims to be a pioneer of graduating qualified students in the agricultural extension work field who will be enabled to contribute in achievement of the integrated sustainable rural development in Iraq, by organizing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating educational and research programs that keep pace with the scientific evolutions and are based on the world quality standards of education. 

Objectives:

  1. Our department aims to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge which relates to the agricultural extension field.

  2. Provide students with the necessary knowledge which will enable them to conduct scientific research or apply for postgraduate studies.  

  3. Motivating our faculty members to conduct scientific research in the agricultural extension field.

  4. Building bridges of cooperation with employers and determining the essential needs of the labor market.

  5. Encouraging and emphasizing the necessity of carrying out scientific research in the field of serving the rural community in general, and in the areas of sustainable agricultural development that relate to rural youth and rural women in particular.

  6. Serving the local community by contributing to continuing education activities and providing scientific consultations.

  7. Striving to provide the appropriate educational environment for students to achieve the best possible results from the teaching and learning opportunities that are available in the department.