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Abstract
Some perspectives on the tertiary educational process of the Elsenburg College of
Agriculture are given. The challenges of promoting and ensuring sustainable farming
practices are central to the training of future agriculturists. This training needs to
acknowledge the fact that agriculture function within a broader system and that it cannot be
isolated from its environment.
Sustainable agriculture is an approach or philosophy based on human aims, which
incorporates land stewardship with agricultural activities. The problem is that it is too often
seen merely as an outcome - rather than a process of change. Although agricultural
education is but one of many factors shaping the professional role of farmers, this process
does play a fundamental role in the process of re-orientation towards sustainable
agricultural production. Education and training should help the farmer develop a deep
awareness of his role in the ecology - understanding, insight, and the sldlls necessary to
participate in the sustainable utilisation and management of his environment.
A course named Environmental Management was developed. Through action research a
'horizontal' approach was used for this, with participants evaluating the current status of the
agricultural environment and themselves maldng suggestions and/or finding appropriate
solutions to certain agricultural issues. The researcher functioned as a facilitator in this
stimulating process. To strengthen the attempt to influence value systems of students,
additional actions were taken: themes were developed, workshops were organised, video
material was utilised, a Wildlife Society was founded, hildng trips were undertaken, etc. The
article briefly summarises the development of the course. It warns that no single course has
the power to truly change values of students towards multidisciplinary or holistic thinldng. To
be able to really activate a positive change towards sustainable agricultural practice, the
help of the full complement of subjects presented at colleges is needed.