Topic 2.

Extension as one of the

Major Functions of a
University/College
 What are the Functions of a
University?
 The universities and colleges are
mandated to perform a trilogy of
functions: instruction, research and
extension.
 Recently, the production function
was added because of the need to
augment the meager resource of the
government to finance the educative
process and for schools to become self-
sufficient.
 What is the primary mandate of a
university?
 The primary mandate of state
universities and colleges (SUCs) is to
develop manpower to meet the
needs of the society and attain
improvement in the quality of life.
 What are the interrelationships of
the four functions?
 SUCs are primarily mandated to perform
a trilogy of functions: instruction,
research and extension. Of the four
functions, instruction is “primus inter
pares” (the greater of the equal);
however, instruction without research will
readily become stale. On the other hand,
research without conscience is
dangerous. It is extension that provides
conscience to research.
 Technically speaking, instruction
refers to resident teaching or the
implementation of curricular
offerings required by students for
graduation. Research is concerned
with technology or knowledge
generation. Extension as a service
provided by a university/college
refers to those activities which
are requested by outside clients
from colleges/schools
 Extension service is a more encompassing
terminology than community service.
Individual extension work can take the form
of involvement in training programs as
facilitators, or resource person/lecturer,
gender trainer, coordinator, crises counseling
and other forms of consultancy services.
 Production is the fourth function which
involved the various income generating
activity of the university/college to
supplement the meager budget of the
institution while supporting the provision of
the instruction, research and extension
functions.
 The four functions are indeed interrelated
because for instruction and extension to
be more meaningful, and for teachers
and extension workers to be teaching
relevant, useful and reliable information,
the knowledge to be disseminated should
be backed up by research. On the other
hand, the proof of the university’s claim
on profitability and appropriateness of a
particular technology or practice to local
conditions could be better exemplified
through production activities.
 The four functions being interrelated,
university administrators should try to
promote harmonious balance of the four
functions to attain the four goals of higher
education which are: quality and
excellence; relevance and responsiveness;
equity and access; and efficiency and
effectiveness.
 How does the government define
University Extension Service?
 Extension service as defined in the
GAA, is an inherent function of institution
of higher learning with the purpose of
initiating, catalyzing, and sustaining the
development of various communities,
using their experience and available
resources. It is a vital component in
creating a more favorable, true to life
teaching-learning experience for students
and for the school to bring to the
community its expertise and resources.
 What is the scope of University
Extension Service?
 Extension services involves packaging,
demonstration, and application of
appropriate technology, tools, materials,
processes and products, generated
through research and technical studies in
selected communities for countrywide
adoption. It includes community
organizing activities and similar
extension, or community development
work.
 Where are the Extension
sites?
 Extension service can be conducted
inside the school. This is called
campus-based extension service or
outside the school, which is called
community-based extension service.
What are the Areas of Concern in
University Extension Service?
 There are several areas of concern in extension,
based on the thrusts and mission of the
concerned institution. These are:
1.Technology Transfer – this deals with
components or packages of technology specific
to the mandates of the institution.
2.Information Dissemination – this should be
along the thrusts of the national government
and the institution.
3.Continuing Education – refers to upgrading
courses with corresponding unit equivalent,
accredited by several institutions; those without
units accredited may be for upgrading only of
 particular skills, carried out through seminars
and training programs.
4.Communications Media Technologies – these
include reproduction of print and non-print
media.
 What are the Sources of Information and

Technologies that are disseminated to the

extension clienteles?
 There can be varied sources of information

and technologies, depending on the

information needs of the clients, however,
the usual sources of information/technologies
are:
 The Research Institutions – There are
various research institutions engaged in
research which can serve as sources of
innovations and technical information of the
extension service. These are:
a. Research Consortia – these are scattered
through the Philippines and is situated in
every region of the country. Specifically
for Bicol, we have the Bicol Consortium for
Agriculture Resources Research and
Development. (BCARRD) composed of
member agencies are follows: CSSAC as
the base agency, Bicol University (BU),
Sorsogon State College (SSC),
 Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC),
Don Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial
State College of Agriculture and
Technology (DEBESMSCAT),
Camarines Norte State College
(CNSC), Partido State University
(PSU), DA, PCA, FIDA, NEDA, DOST,
DENR, ERB and PCARRD
b. Non-Government Organizations (NGO)
– providers of technical information
primarily on sustainable agricultural
practices.
 c. LGU Agricultural Technicians – these
are the devolved technicians of DA
who are now with the local
government units and are serving
the technology needs of the
agricultural sector in their respective
municipalities.
d. Farmer Leaders –they are usually
the immediate sources of information
of the farmers in the community,
particularly indigenous technical
knowledge.
e. Others – include integrators,
cooperatives, lending banks who are
involved in providing financial and
material assistance to the growers in
order to ensure success in the
agribusiness venture of their clients,
they also provide technical assistance
to them.
 What is the legal basis of the
University’s Extension function?
 This was a mandate of RA 8435 otherwise
known as the Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA). It is a
law that prescribes measure for the
modernization of agriculture and fisheries,
with the aim of enhancing profitability and
global competitiveness through an
adequate, focused, and rational delivery of
the necessary support service.
It is guided by the following principles:
 Poverty alleviation and social equity

 Food security

 Rational use of resources

 Global competitiveness

 Sustainable development

 People empowerment, and

 Protection from unfair competition

Who are the clients of the University
Extension Service?
 The clients of University extension service
include:
1. The Local Government Units (LGUs)
Agricultural Technicians
2. Non-Government Organizations
3. Private Sector
4. Agricultural Industries
5. Rural women and farmers
6. Others
 What are the guidelines in University
Extension Project Development?
1. Put up an Extension Office in the college
or university
2. Allocate initial budget for extension work
3. Conduct a training needs assessment or
trainers
4. Develop an appropriate training program
for trainers and other clients
5. Train extension workers to enhance
competencies in extension
6. Develop a plan in extension. Planned
projects must benefit students and the
community
7. Restructure curriculum to include practicum
for students to enrich their learning
experiences.
8. Strengthen departmental linkages to
facilitate multi-disciplinary approach to
student’s learning
9. Organize or strengthen people’s
organization as social laboratory for student
interns/extensionists
10. Develop built-in evaluation mechanisms
(internal)
11. Document field experiences of students and
faculty for publication
12. Establish a track record in extension work
13. Learn from past failures.